Joe Locke (Charlie Spring Actor): Who Played Charlie Spring In Heartstopper?

18-year-old actor Joe Locke played Charlie Spring in Heartstopper.

Joe is a newcomer to the industry, and Heartstopper is his first credited role.

But the Isle of Man native brings so much heart and sincerity to the role, you’d never know it.

Joe plays protagonist Charlie Spring, a reserved teenager who is openly gay — and in a “relationship” with a popular guy at school who won’t acknowledge his existence in public.

“I think that with queer people there’s a universal experience of school that everyone sort of relates to, but then there are differences,” he had said, reflecting on his own experiences in high school.

“I never would say I was bullied. There was only a handful of people I can think of who ever said anything bad to me. Charlie really struggles with that. I think going to an all-boys school probably comes with its differences.”

And so Charlie has some self-esteem work to do in Heartstopper, but luckily he’s surrounded by great friends and a compassionate new love interest.