Besides an Entry Into the MCU, Marvel Has Also Given Joe Locke Another Game-changing Thing in Life

Joe Locke is widely known for portraying Charlie Spring in Netflix’s teen series Heartstopper opposite Kit Connor. The young actor was highly appreciated for his work on the show and is now officially a part of the MCU, as he recently starred in the Kathryn Hahn starrer miniseries Agatha All Along. The show premiered with two episodes on September 18, 2024, with the next five releasing weekly until October 23.

The first season of Heartstopper premiered in 2022 and received critical acclaim, especially for its tone, relatable portrayal of the LGBTQ community, and performances of the actors. The show instantly garnered attention and became one of the most-watched English-language series on streaming platforms. Ahead of the release of the third season, Joe Locke shares his experience working with MCU and what the audience can expect in Heartstopper.

Marvel actor Joe Locke talks about one realization he had after starring in Agatha All Along

In a recent interview with GQ, Joe Locke shared that he had self-taped his audition for his path-breaking role as Charlie Spring in Heartstopper. With the success of the first season, the actor who was appreciated for his performance on the show found himself on the sets of MCU. He stars as Teen, who is an assistant to Kathryn Hahn‘s Agatha’s coven on the show.

Locke describes his character as very thoughtful and kind, but someone who can act without thinking. During the interview, the young actor revealed one realization he had after he starred in Agatha All Along;

Post Heartstopper, whenever people would call me an actor, I would almost recoil a bit because I think in my head it was like, ‘Well, I’ve got this one part that’s very like me as a person but doesn’t really make me an actor. It wasn’t until getting Marvel and doing that and then doing Sweeny Todd on Broadway that I was like, ‘Oh no, I actually am an actor. That’s weird.’

Adding to his statement, his co-star Kit Connor added that Nick and Charlie are not that much like them but, in some ways, are very much like them. He added that he understands what Locke means, as sometimes individuals find themselves thinking about wanting to prove to themselves that they can do different things. Joe Locke also acknowledged that he does not want to be pigeonholed as someone good at playing a gay character. He said

I think I’m really in my head at the moment over being typecast as just playing a camp gay role. Because in Marvel, I also play a gay character. But it’s a me thing. It’s a thing I need to get over, myself.

Locke’s Marvel co-star Pattu LuPone describes the actor as a ‘baby in the business’ and added that she was concerned for him because his personality is extremely sweet and Agatha All Along was his second job. She revealed that the young actor was prepared and self-assured of who he is, which makes her admire his willingness to embrace the responsibility of queerness and the acceptance of that.

Marvel producer and screenwriter Jac Schaeffer also noted that the actor wanted to be a part of the community and wanted to learn from the women he was starring with.

Joe Locke talks about what fans can expect in Heartstopper Season 3

In his conversation with Gay Times, Joe Locke was asked about one thing that he loves about his character which has changed over the seasons. He said he loves Charlie Spring’s confidence, adding that people did not see him as confident initially, but he has grown into a confident character. Talking about their characters’ storyline in Season 3, Locke added,

Charlie goes through a dark period with his mental health this season. We see him experience that and come out the other side, and then he gets really horny… That’s the season.

The actor further added that there’s pressure to make sure that what they’re showcasing on-screen is authentic and not disrespectful to anyone who is going through mental health issues. He noted that it’s a balance of those two feelings, pointing out that he has always dealt with dark topics in a Heartstopper tone, and it was nice to keep doing that in season three but in a more mature way.

Locke was asked if he had ever thought of being a spokesperson for the issues he had been portraying on-screen, to which he said no. The actor added that he only wants to be a spokesperson for something that he feels he can be good for, noting that one can do it to an extent through acting.

The young actor was asked how he protects his mental health while portraying and tackling serious issues on screen. Locke went ahead to compliment his fellow actors, stating that they were such a nice group of people, and the set was so nice and warm that he had never struggled with it.

Heartstopper Season 3 premiers on October 3, 2024, on Netflix. Agatha All Along is streaming on Disney+.