When Heartstopper dropped on Netflix in April, it became an instant queer classic. The story about two boys falling in love, based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman, was a huge hit because of its heartwarming tale of hope, acceptance, and first love. However, for the actors Joe Locke and Kit Connor, the instant rise to fame has been both a blessing and a curse. Locke opened up about this experience in an interview with British GQ.
“We grow up with the characters, but we’re also growing up [as people],” Locke said. “Their views of the world are changing, and those changes happen quite quickly when you’re a teenager because of hormones and school being horrible.”
Locke also shared how his character Charlie’s upcoming body dysmorphia storyline in season two is one that, for many in the audience unaccustomed to seeing their bodies represented on screen, could be very relatable. “Part of that is because most teen shows have 30-year-olds playing 17-year-olds!” Locke says. “They have actual adult bodies; 17-year-olds don’t look like that!”
Courtesy of Netflix
But it’s not just the audience who’ll connect with the plotline; Locke himself related to Charlie’s struggle. “I feel like everyone sees weaknesses and problems in their own bodies,” he said. “[For me], they’ve been heightened in the last year because more people are seeing my face and seeing the things that I hate about myself.”
Locke related that he’s had to learn to emotionally disconnect from criticisms of his appearance, particularly of his ears. “I tried to convince my mum to get them pinned back. But I remember one day my friend [held them back] and was like, ‘Do you really want to look like that?’” In that moment, Locke learned a kind of intentional self-acceptance that has continued to help him ward off criticism, but also embrace a body part he once disliked. “Now I really like my ears,” he said. “I think they’re a defining feature of me.”
Season two of Heartstopper is currently in production and is likely to premiere in 2023.
Heartstopper has been renewed by Netflix for seasons two and three. Season two is set to premiere in 2023.
Season one of Heartstopper is available to stream now on Netflix.
There are currently four volumes of the webtoon Heartstopper by Alice Oseman out now, with a fifth and final volume set to be released on Feb. 2, 2023.
