Heartstopper is just days away from arriving on Netflix and the buzz around it is immense.
Based on a series of webcomics by author Alice Oseman, Heartstopper has been an ongoing project for the illustrator since 2016 and already has masses of fans.
The series is available to read in full on the website, and the first two volumes can also be found online and in bookshops in the UK.
Heartstopper tells the story of secondary schoolers Charlie and Nick, who form an unlikely friendship and even more unlikely romance, as rugby player Nick comes to terms with his sexuality and feelings for Charlie.
Already a beloved series, Heartstopper will arrive on Netflix as an eight-part TV series, and has promised to remain faithful to Alice’s beloved comic.
So, as we wait for the episodes to land on Netflix, who is in the Heartstopper cast?
Who is in the Heartstopper cast?
Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
Joe Locke plays Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper.
The webcomic starts off from Charlie’s perspective, making Joe essentially the main character of the show – to start, at least. Charlie is openly gay after being forcibly outed by bullies.
Joe himself, meanwhile, is 18 years old and hails from the Isle of Man.
Like Charlie, he is gay; the casting process was strict in that all prospective actors had to match the webcomics characteters’ sexuality and race.
Incredibly, Heartstopper is Joe’s first on-screen role, as he told an interview with that he heard about an open audition and ‘really wanted to be a part of the project.’
Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
Kit Connor plays cheerful, rugby-loving jock Nick Nelson in the new Netflix series.
He and Charlie meet on the first day of a new term at school and develop and unlikely friendship before a romance begins blossoming between them.
Much of the series centres around Nick considering his sexuality as he grows closer with Charlie.
Actor Kit is 18 years old and from Croydon, and has appeared in several film and TV roles since he was a child. His most major role before Heartstopper was as a teenage Elton John in the acclaimed biopic Rocketman.
Kit recently spoke to Metro.co.uk where he said it was ‘a real honour’ to play a bisexual character.
‘I think male bisexuality is even less represented [than female or non-binary],’ he said. ‘And I think that’s really special, going into great detail about his journey as a character and his mental struggle.’
William Gao as Tao Xu
William Gao plays Tao Xu in Heartstopper, another student who forms a friendship with Nick, Charlie and the others.
Tao is one of the only cis and straight characters out of the main group, and helps his friends as they experience homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
William, meanwhile, is multi-talented: as well as acting, the Heartstopper star is in a band called Wasia Project. Their EP, How Can I Pretend? will be released in May.
Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
Yasmin Finney plays trans student Elle Argent in the Heartstopper series, who meets Charlie, Nick and the gang after transferring from an all-boys school.
Elle’s actress, Yasmin, is also transgender, and has built a massive following on TikTok where she speaks about her experience growing up trans in Manchester.
The actress is regularly included on lists of TikTok’s ‘biggest influencers’.
Career-wise, Yasmins has performed in multiple stage shows, including at The Royal Exchange Theatre, but Hearstopper is her first televised role.
Who else is in the cast of Heartstopper?
Heartstopper features a large ensemble of supporting and background characters, including fan-favourites, lesbians Tara and Darcy, and friend/bully Ben Hope.
As the series grows, it’s likely some of these actors and actresses will become stars in their own right – so watch this space.
- Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
- Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson
- Sebastian Croft as Ben Hope
- Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
- Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
- Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
- Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
- Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi
- Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh
- Alan Turkington as Mr Lange
When will Heartstopper be released?
Heartstopper will arrive on Netflix on Friday, April 22.
The cast of the show, as well as author and illustrator Alice Oseman and the show’s legions of new and old fans, are eagerly awaiting the date.
(And, as usual, more than a few people are preparing to binge it all at once.)
It looks like fans won’t be disappointed, as critics have gone wild for the new series, with Metro.co.uk .
