Kit Connor and Joe Locke: 'Making a film like Heartstopper will forever be important'

Heartstopper is one of Netflix's most-watched shows, and it has meant a great deal to many young LGBTQ+ viewers around the world. The show follows Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, two teenage boys who fall in love at school. Now, the story is coming to an end with a feature film called Heartstopper Forever. The film's two lead actors, Kit Connor and Joe Locke, spoke to the BBC about what it was like to wrap up the series they say changed their lives.

Connor, who plays Nick, said the story works well as a film because 'we've been through so much with these characters.' Locke, who plays Charlie, said the team wanted to give the couple 'a cinematic ending' with a tight focus on the two main characters and the challenges they face. In the film, Nick is heading off to university while Charlie stays home to finish school, putting their relationship to the test. Both actors say they are proud of how the story has been handled from beginning to end.

The show first came out in 2022 and quickly earned strong reviews. It has tackled serious topics that many young people deal with in real life, such as mental health, bullying, and questions about identity. The new film continues that tradition, exploring themes like eating disorders, alcohol dependency, and family problems. Fans of the show can expect those themes to be treated with the same care they always have been.

One of the most talked-about parts of the film involves Pride celebrations in the fictional English town of Truham, where the series is set. A trans character named Elle Argent, played by Yasmin Finney, also takes on real-world issues that transgender people are facing today. Connor said it is important for audiences to see this kind of story on screen, 'wherever we are in the world and whatever the powers that be are doing.' He added that making a film like Heartstopper will always matter.

Netflix has confirmed that the film will be available in some countries where homosexuality is against the law. Connor, who is 22, was previously known for his role in the TV version of His Dark Materials and in the Elton John biopic Rocketman. He said he was pushed into coming out as bisexual in 2022, after people speculated about his identity online when the first season of Heartstopper came out. He described the show as 'a beautiful and powerful message about queer joy and humanity.'

Both Locke and Connor also served as producers on the film, which gave them a bigger say in how the story was told. Connor said the role let them speak up for the whole cast, all of whom 'care about these characters and the story.' Locke joked that people are often just given producer titles without doing any real work, but said that in this case, 'we actually put some effort in and took it seriously.' It was clearly a labor of love for both of them.

As the show wraps up, both actors said goodbye to this chapter of their lives with some sadness but also a lot of pride. Locke said Heartstopper 'changed my life in pretty much every way,' and Connor called it 'the biggest thing that will ever happen to any of us.' The two have become close friends through their work on the series. Connor said he values Locke as a friend above all else, and that he loves watching him act.

Locke has gone on to have a busy career since landing the role of Charlie. He has starred in the Marvel spin-off Agatha All Along and made his debut on both Broadway and the West End stage in London. He originally got the role by responding to an open casting call — a process in which anyone can apply. More than 10,000 people tried out, and most of the main cast were newcomers with little or no acting experience before the show.

Locke feels strongly that the industry should open its doors to more unknown talent. He said the entertainment world is still 'run in a very closed doors way,' making it hard for new people to break in. 'There's so much talent out there,' he said, adding that you cannot make content that reflects the real world if you do not let people from the real world be a part of it. Other youth-focused shows in 2026, such as Off Campus and Heated Rivalry, have also found success with mostly unknown casts, proving that giving new actors a chance can pay off.