Latest news with #JoeLocke
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Agatha All Along' star Joe Locke on learning from Kathryn Hahn, musical theater goals, and the ‘Heartstopper' movie with Kit Connor
Despite what anyone who has watched an interview with him might believe, Agatha All Along star Joe Locke doesn't think comedy comes naturally to him. "I think I'm quite a funny person when I want to be," he tells Gold Derby, "but I find acting comedy the hardest part for me." You'd never be able to tell watching him share scenes with Kathryn Hahn's hilarious Agatha Harkness on the Disney+ series about the Marvel Cinematic Universe's charismatic witch. Locke's portrayal of "Teen," and then, eventually, Billy Maximoff, is sweet, layered, and a perfect addition to the onscreen coven made up of his costars Hahn, Patti LuPone (Lilia Calderu), Sasheer Zamata (Jennifer Kale), Ali Ahn (Alice Wu-Gulliver), and Debra Jo Rupp (Sharon Davis). As the youngest cast member in a show populated with legendary performers, he more than holds his own. More from GoldDerby How Charlie Cox characterizes Matt Murdock through action scenes in 'Daredevil: Born Again' Natasha Lyonne and 13 'Poker Face' guest stars submitted for Emmy consideration TV casting directors roundtable: 'The Diplomat,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise,' 'Doctor Odyssey' Locke spoke to Gold Derby about the most difficult part of preparing for a Marvel project, what Agatha did for him as an actor, his musical theater aspirations, and his upcoming executive producer role on the Heartstopper movie. Gold Derby: To start, can you talk a bit about what auditioning for a Marvel project is like? What did you know going into this series? Joe Locke: I knew nothing. They sent me, it was Untitled Marvel Project for an untitled role. The scene they sent was in Episode 1, which is a bottle episode, so it's like a detective episode. They sent me the interrogation scene between me and Kathryn Hahn's character and I was like, "What is this? This isn't a Marvel show. It's a police procedural and a slightly strange, dramatic one. I'm confused." And then after a few auditions, they would tell me more, and more every time I'd get a recall until they told me everything, and I was like, "Oh, OK, that makes way more sense now." You thought you were going in for Law & Order or something. Yeah, like has Marvel taken over Law & Order or something? What did your prep look like for "Teen"/Billy? A lot of comic book reading! Marvel sent me a link, being like, "Here's every single page of comic Billy has ever been in, ever." I was like, "I'll get reading." But Marvel use this software that I was going to name, but I shouldn't name because they'll tell me off, to securely send files and it's the hardest thing to use. On set, we would always talk about how it's the hardest thing to use. Trying to read a comic, you'll try to scroll a page, but it doesn't do it. Lovely. Were there nerves about starting for you? Obviously Heartstopper is huge, but Marvel is a different beast entirely. What was sitting on your heart about joining this juggernaut? I think I was really nervous. We did a week in L.A. before we did the main shoot in Atlanta to do all the exteriors on Blondie Street, which has now unfortunately been knocked down. But that was why we did it early, so we could do it before they knocked it down. I was nervous for that, I think, but then I think I went into Atlanta having met some of the people, having met Kathryn, and the ice was already broken. The team creating Agatha are just the nicest people in the world, and they are so comforting and homely. I remember one day before one of my first days, I was really nervous and talking to Jac [Schaeffer, creator and director] about it, and she just looked at me, and she put a hand on my face and went, "It was always you, Joe," and that's just the most warm feeling. I don't know, it was great. And also, I just thought, I've been having this amazing experience that so many people would love to have. There's no point being nervous about it, because I should just enjoy this and take from this as an actor as many skills as I can. SEE Patti LuPone on her Agatha All Along witch and 'getting in trouble' for spoiling Marvel secrets Absolutely. We're so conditioned to think about big projects like this using a green screen and all kinds of crazy special effects, but that really wasn't the case so much on this series. So how did working on practical sets affect your performance? It helped so much. When you're acting, it's much easier to act to a person than a green tennis ball. So it definitely was great, and also the sets were so beautiful and so well crafted. It really showed the skills of such amazing craftspeople, and to get to [see] that was really, really, really special. The cast has talked so much about the real coven that you all formed on set, and obviously several of your cast members were heavyweights in the industry. So did Kathryn or Patti, or any of the coven, ever give you advice on set that really aided your performance, or kind of gave you a boost of confidence? Yeah, I mean, it's less, like, specific advice other than Kathryn once told me something about… I forgot what it was. But I just took everything I could from them, like every single thing. Like Kathryn has this amazing ability to move her mouth in such tiny little ways, which shows such specific changes of character and emotion that I've never seen in anyone else before. And also, Kathryn has this ability to play such goofy comedy with such truth, which is why it makes it so funny because you believe it. I think oftentimes with comedy, what makes comedy so hard is that it becomes not naturalistic, and she just is so good at doing that. And Patti, everything she does is intentional, and everything she does has a reason behind it. And it may look effortless, but actually everything has such hard work behind it, and such dedication and care which is, is really special. Yeah, you can definitely tell. They're fantastic in the show. All of you are. How do you think playing Billy has left a lasting impact on you? What have you taken with you from Agatha into your other work? So much. I think I really always saw Agatha as my drama school, and I didn't go to drama school, and I learned how to be an actor in Agatha in a way. Because in Heartstopper, [my character] Charlie, especially in Season 1, Charlie was very like myself. It was almost like playing a different version of myself, whereas Billy is nothing like me. And so I definitely took way more acting from [Agatha]. I can imagine. It was kind of a masterclass. You had a lot of stuff thrown at you, and a lot of stuff that you had to execute. In terms of what you maybe found emotionally challenging, obviously, there's a huge reveal where we finally learn who "Teen" actually is and that flashback scene is kind of devastating to watch. And obviously, it's had a major impact on who he is. Was that the most challenging emotionally to perform? Or was it the big reveal where you come in floating? I found actually that the hardest thing for me was working out what this, like, façade of Episodes 2 to 5 were, and how much of that to play. The darker stuff I actually found the easier part. I remember when I was auditioning I did two chemistry read scenes with Kathryn. One was the Episode 2 cars scene when we're on the way to find the coven, and then the other one was the Episode 6, post-reveal, post-mud scene where she comes out and shouts at me, and that was the scene that got me the job. After that chemistry read, I had to do like three more recalls because they were like, "You didn't really nail the comedy of the Episode 2 stuff." And they're right. I mean, I think I'm quite a funny person when I want to be, but I find acting comedy [to be] the hardest. So that was definitely the hardest part for me. People have said all the time that comedy is actually a lot harder for actors than drama to tap into. Would you want to be part of more comedy in the future? Because I've watched a lot of your interviews, as have your fans, and you are very funny, so I feel like that's a natural thing for you. Is that something you're looking forward to exploring more in new projects? Yeah, I'd love to do more comedies. I'd love to. I think my sense of humor is very dry, and so maybe more dry comedy would fit. I think a British comedy you could slip into very easily. I'd love to do something like that! Are you hoping to don the eyeliner and the crown again? How are you feeling about your Marvel future? In a heartbeat. Yeah, obviously, I had the best time, and I would love to carry on playing Billy, and, you know, the door was left open at the end of Agatha, and so I hope one day I get to walk through it. Obviously you have a very large fan base because of Heartstopper, but, like we said, Marvel is a juggernaut. So I'm assuming that expanded the eyes that are on you in a completely different way. How did you find that shift? It was great! I think Heartstopper is the best training for that, like in a fan base kind of way. And Marvel fans care so much about the characters, which is so great. I really hope I did the character justice. Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel You absolutely did. Especially for fans, to see an openly queer character in the Marvel universe really meant a lot to them. I'm assuming that interactions you have in public with fans might have ramped up as well, because seeing a queer character in, arguably, one of the biggest franchises of all time is so meaningful to people. I know that when we talked at the premiere of the show, you actually said you didn't feel pressure in that way because it felt natural to just have a queer character because queer people exist, and that was fantastic to hear. Have you had any moments with fans, though, just telling you how much that specific thing impacted them? Yeah, definitely. I, more than anyone, I think, can understand the importance and also the impact of positive representation for people, and less for the people who those characters represent, but also for helping change opinions of people who might not necessarily have wanted one of those characters [to exist] in the first place. I think there's something really special about that. You can't change someone's opinion about something when you come from a place of hate or a place of attacking them. You're not going to win any battles by telling someone that they're an awful person because of x, y, and z. What you might do is if you show them a positive example of the thing that they might be scared of, and how that actually isn't something to be scared of, then that can slowly over time shift opinions of people and does it in a way that doesn't make them feel alienated and makes them double down on those opinions, and doesn't make them feel stupid. Because, you know, lots of people aren't stupid and have those opinions, but I really hope that increased representation in a positive way will slowly but surely help the world. Absolutely. You were recently on Broadway in Sweeney Todd and Agatha obviously has musical elements. Would a movie musical or something like that be something that's on your bucket list to tick off down the line? I want to do the Spring Awakening movie! Oh, you'd be so good. To play Moritz? Yeah, either Melchior or Moritz. I don't mind. I'm publicly putting myself out there for that. I was trying to do it secretly and see who I knew I could talk to. But now I'm like, 'I'll just say it out loud.' That's my favorite musical of all time. It would be so good. I'd like to do any musical. Like Hadestown, I would love to play Orpheus in the movie. On stage, my voice couldn't handle it, but maybe in a film because you can re-record and re-record. I don't think I could play him on stage. I think I would be up to only one night a week. SEE Kathryn Hahn reveals the unusual way she found out about her Golden Globe nomination for Agatha All Along I think you're selling yourself a bit short there, because I did see you [on Broadway] and you were excellent. But you know, training exists. I think you could do it. I'd love to. My favorite musical of all time is Falsettos, and I'd love to play Whizzer in a movie musical of that film in, like, five, 10 years. So in five, 10 years, you can cast me. Thank you. I also think if you just wanted to do everything from the Sondheim canon, I don't think anybody would hate that. I'd love to! Yeah, that would be so fantastic, especially because movie musicals are the thing now. OK, we're Gold Derby. Obviously, we focus on awards. Do you remember what the first award you ever won was? It does not have to be industry-related. I think I won my school drama award. I also won a computer science award one year. I was very proud of that. I got just, like, school awards. I won a Blue Peter badge once when I was younger, which, as a British kid, is a big thing. Yeah, I don't think a lot of Americans know what that is, but that's legendary over there. Well, I guess I didn't win one, but I got one. I mean, still a bragging rights thing for sure. What do you hope fans got out of Agatha? What do you hope fans are left feeling when they're finished with this fantastic series? I hope that we shocked them with some of the twists and the turns of the story. I hope that they feel sad that people are dead, and I hope that they want us, me and Kathryn, in more Marvel things. I can pretty much tell you that's the case. We're so excited for hopefully more Billy. And Heartstopper the movie, we're so excited for that over here too. That's your first EP venture as well, correct? Yeah, I'm excited about it! I think that they're going to regret giving it to me because I'm gonna have so much fun with it, but not in a bad way. I'm just really excited to learn everything I can from the experience and take it forward, you know. As an actor, you don't really get to see much of the behind-the-scenes stuff. So it's been, even so far, so nice getting to be in those conversations, and they're really taking us seriously, me and Kit [Connor, his costar and fellow executive producer], which is really nice. How is Kit as a producing partner? Great! Yeah, all of our notes so far have been pretty on the same page. Agatha All Along is now streaming on Disney+. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Best of GoldDerby How Charlie Cox characterizes Matt Murdock through action scenes in 'Daredevil: Born Again' TV casting directors roundtable: 'The Diplomat,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise,' 'Doctor Odyssey' How 'Overcompensating' cast one of its writers as its co-lead Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Natasha Lyonne and 13 ‘Poker Face' guest stars submitted for Emmy consideration
Poker Face is going big for the 2025 Emmys. Gold Derby has confirmed that the Peacock comedy is submitting 14 different actors for the second season. More from GoldDerby 'Agatha All Along' star Joe Locke on learning from Kathryn Hahn, musical theater goals, and the 'Heartstopper' movie with Kit Connor TV casting directors roundtable: 'The Diplomat,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise,' 'Doctor Odyssey' How 'Overcompensating' cast one of its writers as its co-lead Natasha Lyonne, who plays human lie detector Charlie Cale, will be submitted in Best Comedy Actress. She was nominated in this category twice before: once for the show's first season in 2023 and in 2019 for Russian Doll. Lyonne has earned a total of five career Emmy nominations, including recognition for writing and producing Russian Doll and for her guest performance on Orange Is the New Black in 2014. Speaking of guest stars, Poker Face is packed with them. As Lyonne's Charlie continues her cross-country journey — dodging mobsters in her trusty Plymouth Barracuda — she encounters mysteries at every stop. Along the way, she meets a host of intriguing characters brought to life by some very familiar faces. Among them are three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, who plays quintuplets in the Season 2 premiere. She will be submitted in Guest Comedy Actress along with six other featured players this season: Eva Jade Halford, Katie Holmes, Oscar nominee Carol Kane, three-time Emmy nominee Gaby Hoffman, three-time Emmy winner Margo Martindale, and four-time Emmy winner Rhea Perlman. The Guest Comedy Actor submissions will include five-time Emmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito, three-time Emmy winner John Mulaney, Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani, Simon Helberg, Simon Rex, and Callum Vinson. In 2023, Judith Light made history when she took home Peacock's first-ever Emmy for her guest performance in the Poker Face episode "Time of the Monkey." See Poker Face's official acting submissions below. (Because actors can submit on their own, there's a chance cast members not listed below might appear on the Emmy ballot.) Comedy Actress: Natasha Lyonne Comedy Guest Actor: Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Helberg, John Mulaney, Kumail Nanjiani, Simon Rex, Callum Vinson Comedy Guest Actress: Cynthia Erivo, Eva Jade Halford, Gaby Hoffman, Katie Holmes, Carol Kane, Margo Martindale, Rhea Perlman Poker Face is available to stream on Peacock. Emmy nominations will be announced July 15. Best of GoldDerby 'I've never been on a show that got this kind of recognition': Katherine LaNasa on 'The Pitt's' success and Dana's 'existential crisis' How Charlie Cox characterizes Matt Murdock through action scenes in 'Daredevil: Born Again' 'Agatha All Along' star Joe Locke on learning from Kathryn Hahn, musical theater goals, and the 'Heartstopper' movie with Kit Connor Click here to read the full article.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Netflix finally reveals fate of hit drama Heartstopper after three series and huge delays
HEARTSTOPPER has finally had its future revealed by Netflix after its third series amid production delays - and it's good and bad news. The smash-hit series left fans hungry for more after its third series aired last year as they waited six months to learn its fate. Advertisement 3 Heartstopper's future has finally been revealed by Netflix bosses Credit: Netflix 3 The story will conclude with a feature-length movie instead of a fourth series Credit: Netflix 3 Joe Locke and Kit Connor will reprise their roles for the final instalment as fans flooded social media with their reactions Credit: Samuel Dore And now Netflix bosses at streaming giant have confirmed there won't be a fourth series on the platform. However, instead the Announcing the news, show bosses said in a statement: "Netflix has today (on the third anniversary of the launch of season one) announced that Heartstopper will return for one final feature film. "After three seasons of the fan-favourite series, the much-anticipated final instalment will conclude the story of Nick, Charlie and their friends, with the narrative based around the yet unreleased volume six of Alice Oseman's graphic novels." Advertisement read more on heartstopper The heart-warming news means lead stars Joe Locke and Kit Connor's characters Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson will get a proper ending. Fans will watch as Nick heads to university while Charlie remains in school, with their long-distance relationship beginning to weigh heavy. As their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet, it remains to be seen if they can stand the test of time. Heartstopper's creator and writer Alice Oseman said: 'I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the Heartstopper story. Advertisement Most read in TV Exclusive "I'm so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible and to the incredible fans of Heartstopper for your patience and passion. "I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion." Heartstopper star Bradley Riches makes worrying comment about the future of hit Netflix show saying 'it can't end like this' Reacting to the news, one Heartstopper fan posted: "A movie? So, we aren't getting another full series? I absolutely adore Heartstopper. I have watched the seasons over and over again. It's one of the finest shows that has ever graced our screens! If the movie is as great as the episodes, then we should all be happy!" A second wrote: "Can it be a really bloody long movie? This is exciting but the storyline was already crammed into an eight episode season." Advertisement "I was honestly hoping for a final season, but I'll take a movie over a cancellation any day," said a third fan. While a fourth commented: "It's a movie or nothing. Can we be happy that Kit and Joe are able to fit this into their schedule now that they've moved on to other even bigger roles? Hopefully, they can bring the rest of the cast back, too. A lot of stars have to align to make this possible. Be happy!" Who is in the cast of Heartstopper series 3? Heartstopper became an instant favourite when it landed on Netflix in 2022. Since then there have been a few casting changes. This is who will appear in series three... Joe Locke as Charlie Spring Kit Connor as Nick Nelson William Gao as Tao Xu Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent Corinna Brown as Tara Jones Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olson Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney Jenny Walser as Tori Spring Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh with Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes Darragh Hand as Michael Holden Hayley Atwell as Aunt Diane Jonathan Bailey as Jack Maddox Eddie Marsan as Geoff Lucy Speed as Susan Denvers Annette Badland as Ivy Olsson Olivia Coleman and Sebastian Croft will not reprise their roles in series three.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Netflix finally reveals fate of hit drama Heartstopper after three series and huge delays
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEARTSTOPPER has finally had its future revealed by Netflix after its third series amid production delays - and it's good and bad news. The smash-hit series left fans hungry for more after its third series aired last year as they waited six months to learn its fate. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Heartstopper's future has finally been revealed by Netflix bosses Credit: Netflix 3 The story will conclude with a feature-length movie instead of a fourth series Credit: Netflix 3 Joe Locke and Kit Connor will reprise their roles for the final instalment as fans flooded social media with their reactions Credit: Samuel Dore And now Netflix bosses at streaming giant have confirmed there won't be a fourth series on the platform. However, instead the Heartstopper story will come to an end with a feature-length movie that's officially been green-lit. Announcing the news, show bosses said in a statement: "Netflix has today (on the third anniversary of the launch of season one) announced that Heartstopper will return for one final feature film. "After three seasons of the fan-favourite series, the much-anticipated final instalment will conclude the story of Nick, Charlie and their friends, with the narrative based around the yet unreleased volume six of Alice Oseman's graphic novels." The heart-warming news means lead stars Joe Locke and Kit Connor's characters Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson will get a proper ending. Fans will watch as Nick heads to university while Charlie remains in school, with their long-distance relationship beginning to weigh heavy. As their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet, it remains to be seen if they can stand the test of time. Heartstopper's creator and writer Alice Oseman said: 'I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the Heartstopper story. "I'm so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible and to the incredible fans of Heartstopper for your patience and passion. "I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion." Heartstopper star Bradley Riches makes worrying comment about the future of hit Netflix show saying 'it can't end like this' Reacting to the news, one Heartstopper fan posted: "A movie? So, we aren't getting another full series? I absolutely adore Heartstopper. I have watched the seasons over and over again. It's one of the finest shows that has ever graced our screens! If the movie is as great as the episodes, then we should all be happy!" A second wrote: "Can it be a really bloody long movie? This is exciting but the storyline was already crammed into an eight episode season." "I was honestly hoping for a final season, but I'll take a movie over a cancellation any day," said a third fan. While a fourth commented: "It's a movie or nothing. Can we be happy that Kit and Joe are able to fit this into their schedule now that they've moved on to other even bigger roles? Hopefully, they can bring the rest of the cast back, too. A lot of stars have to align to make this possible. Be happy!" Who is in the cast of Heartstopper series 3? Heartstopper became an instant favourite when it landed on Netflix in 2022. Since then there have been a few casting changes. This is who will appear in series three... Joe Locke as Charlie Spring Kit Connor as Nick Nelson William Gao as Tao Xu Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent Corinna Brown as Tara Jones Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olson Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney Jenny Walser as Tori Spring Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh with Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes Darragh Hand as Michael Holden Hayley Atwell as Aunt Diane Jonathan Bailey as Jack Maddox Eddie Marsan as Geoff Lucy Speed as Susan Denvers Annette Badland as Ivy Olsson Olivia Coleman and Sebastian Croft will not reprise their roles in series three.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Heartstopper' is officially ending on Netflix — but there's a catch
It's the beginning of the end of 'Heartstopper.' Netflix announced Tuesday that the British rom-com series will end with a feature film, instead of a fourth season. 'happy 🍂day! a heartstopper movie, our final chapter based on alice oseman's upcoming volume six, is coming,' the streamer wrote on Instagram on the three-year anniversary of the show's premiere. 10 Netflix announced the 'Heartstopper' movie on April 22. Netflix According to Netflix's Tudum, the 'Heartstopper' movie will star Kit Connor (as Nick Nelson) and Joe Locke (as Charlie Spring). They will also serve as executive producers. The film, which will pick up after the events of Season 3 and begins filming this summer, is being directed by Wash Westmoreland and written by the show's creator and executive producer Alice Oseman, who wrote the graphic novels that the series is based on. 10 Kit Connor, Joe Locke in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the 'Heartstopper' story,' Oseman said in a statement. 'I'm so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible and to the incredible fans of 'Heartstopper' for your patience and passion. I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion.' The synopsis for the movie reads, 'Nick and Charlie are inseparable, but with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?' 10 Joe Locke and Kit Connor in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Leila Khan, Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Tobie Donovan, Yasmin Finney, William Gao in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Fans had mixed reactions to the news of the 'Heartstopper' film. 'This makes me so happy that Heartstopper gets the ending it truly deserves,' one fan wrote in the comments of Netflix's Instagram announcement. 'this just made my day,' another fan said. A third account commented, 'The best news ever, my day couldn't be better!!🥹.' 10 Kit Connor as Nick Nelson, Joe Locke as Charlie Spring in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection But other viewers of the show were disappointed that Season 4 was shafted in favor of a movie. 'No season 4 before the movie is almost angering 😭😭,' a fan said. Someone else wrote, 'idk I'd prefer 8 hours of episodes instead of 2 hours but whatever ig.' 10 Joe Locke in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Yasmin Finney in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'why movie????? only maybe 1-2 hours. we need series with alot duration instead,' a different fan said. 'We want season 4 not a movie sorry but it's not a good news,' another comment read. 'Heartstopper' helped launch Connor and Locke's careers when the show came out in April 2022. 10 Kit Connor and Joe Locke in 'Heartstopper.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Connor, 21, who won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for his role as Nick, recently starred in 'Romeo & Juliet' on Broadway alongside Rachel Zegler and in the film 'Warfare.' The British actor came out as bisexual in Oct. 2022 after facing queerbaiting accusations over his 'Heartstopper' role. He clarified his coming out in a July 2023 interview with British Vogue, saying, 'I think 'forced' isn't the right word I would use, but I would say that I would have preferred to do it another way. I also don't know if I would have ever done it.' 10 Kit Connor at the 'Warfare' premiere on March 27. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 'But at the end of the day I don't regret it. In many ways it was really empowering,' he added. Locke's recent gigs include the Broadway revival of 'Sweeney Todd' and the Marvel miniseries 'Agatha All Along,' where he played Wanda Maxmimoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) son Billy. 10 Joe Locke at the 'Agatha All Along' FYC screening on April 19. Getty Images for Disney The 21-year-old told Teen Vogue in 2023 that obsessed 'Heartstopper' fans stalked his family. 'It's a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their lives are affected by choices in my life,' Locke said. 'I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn their boundaries.'
