Joe Locke, one of the stars of Netflix’s Heartstopper, is the subject of a lengthy interview and profile piece in Variety.
Locke, 20, shot to fame when the first season of Heartstopper aired in 2022. It was his first professional acting role. He beat around 10,000 other actors through an open casting call.
The show details the romantic relationship between two school boys, Charlie and Nick (played by Locke and Kit Connor). In real life, Locke is also gay. He came out aged 12 to his family.
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Heartstopper’s success has led to further roles. Locke recently made his Broadway debut in Sweeney Todd. He’s also in the forthcoming WandaVision spin-off television series, Agatha All Along, for Disney+.
Disney has not confirmed who Locke is playing, but we do know his character is gay. This has led fans to speculate that he will be revealed as Wiccan, the out, grown-up son of Wanda Maximoff.
“Overwhelming”
Locke says landing a role in the Marvel universe is a “pinch me” moment. He’s also grateful for the Heartstopper role that made him a star. However, he’s also aware that many viewers confuse him with his most identifiable role, and how ‘Charlie’, an out-gay teen, is regarded as a trailblazing figure.
“I find all of it quite overwhelming,” Locke told Variety. “In a good way, but still overwhelming. Sometimes I feel very accepting of it, and some days I want to push it away because I’m afraid of — I don’t know — the responsibility of it, almost.”
When the interviewer says that seems a lot to put on the shoulders of someone who is still young, Locke replies, “Yeah, and there are days that I never want to play a gay character again. Most of the casting I get sent are for gay characters.”
He was disappointed that he had to turn down a role as a straight character in a movie this summer due to scheduling conflicts.
Locke wants to prove to the industry that he’s not “a one-trick pony who was just the guy from ‘Heartstopper.’”
“Which in itself is maybe a problem of the industry, or a problem of me and my internalized homophobia,” he adds. “I don’t know.”
Locke expresses excitement about joining the cast of Agatha, although he says his hopes of getting buff were quickly dashed.
“I thought you get cast in a Marvel show, you get paid to get really muscly and hench,” he says (‘hench’ is British slang for fit and muscular). “‘We want you to stay small and twink-y’ is basically what they said, in a very corporate way.”
Patti LuPone
Among those to praise Locke was one of his Agatha castmates, Broadway legend Patti LuPone. She praised his maturity despite his increasing fame at a relatively young age.
“Think about it. He is in the Marvel universe. He did a Broadway musical. I don’t know how I would have handled it at his age. And yet he is embracing all of this and rising to the occasion. I don’t think there’s anything he will not be able to do.”
Agatha All Along debuts on September 18. The third season of Heartstopper, which Locke says will show his and Connor’s characters begin to explore a sexual relationship, arrives October 3.
Check out the latest trailer for Agatha All Along below.
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Jimmay1979
“Locke, 20, shot to fame when the first season of Heartstopper aired in 2002”? didnt realize the show was that old!
Jimmay1979
“He’s also filmed the role of WandaVision spin-off television series Agatha All Along for Disney+.” Is AI writing this?
BeaglePower
Yeah, he was -2 then.
powersthatbe
Well done, Joe! Great to see such young, gifted and talented representation. I would have given anything to get this level of representation at the same age. It’s inspiring and gives hope for the future. I agree, I don’t think there’s anything he will not be able to do.
inbama
“Interview With A Vampire” is now on Netflix for those who still prefer passion.
EdWoody
Glad to see others calling out the horrendous copy-editing on this site. Have some pride in your work, for crying out loud.
As for Joe, he’s adorable and talented and I wish him all the success in the world.
graphicjack
it won’t be explicit, but Heartstopper will not shy away from sex completely in S3. If you read the comic online, you know what will happen.
corioboy
It isn’t that old the first season aired in 2022 it is a misprint.
Louis
@inbama – The two new seasons of Interview with the Vampire are great. I’m a huge Anne Rice fan (flew to New Orleans to visit her grave – I live in the UK) and am so pleased with how they’ve done the series. Lives of the Mayfair Witches season one was okay. Not as good as Interview but not terrible.
correctio
“Wiccan, the out, grown-up son of Wanda Maximoff” just make it stop already. no more super hero movies!
dmarcus
He’s only 20 and the internet (especially on Twitter) is getting backlash from all sides. The gays wanted a “hotter” Wiccan and conservatives are mad because of sheer gay existence. Give Locke a break. He’s a very talented actor and he can sing amazingly. Very few often does an out gay actor get these types of leading role that can further their career; especially at Disney. Be glad Disney/ Marvel found someone talented and well deserving of the part who is also queer. I understand his frustration because it’s a lot of responsibility for a newbie gay actor to represent a popular comic super hero & an iconic gay character. Comic fans, MCU fans, and queer fans let’s just support Locke’s career and defend him from bigots when Agatha All Along airs.
David Hudson
Thankyou @Jimmay1979 – that typo has been corrected.