Joe Locke rose to fame as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper
,
a role that earned him an Emmy nomination and solidified his place as a breakout star. He has since stepped into the Marvel world with Agatha All Along
and will return for the upcoming Heartstopper
film. But beyond the screen, nothing captures fan attention more than when actors drop the curtain and share the real stories behind the scenes, just as Locke recently did with refreshing honesty.
Joe Locke reflected on the stereotypes he faced in his Hollywood career and how navigating typecasting shaped his path in the industry.
Inside Joe Locke’s journey through typecasting and queer representation
In his chat with Charlie Cox on Variety’s Actors on Actors,
Joe Locke
reflected on how he is frequently sent auditions for roles that match his appearance—young, slim, and queer. While he understands why those parts come his way, he expressed a desire to explore characters outside that mold. “And I’m really good at playing that, because I am a skinny gay twink,”
he said. Locke shared that he has been trying to gain weight to shift perceptions, but it has been a challenge.
Joe Locke on being typecast: “A lot of the auditions I get sent are for skinny gay twinks…I am really good at playing that…because I am a skinny gay twink.” #ActorsOnActors pic.twitter.com/28AjCh1ety
— Harish Chandra (@HarishChan20246) June 11, 2025
Locke went on to share, “I’m eating so much food,”
he said, “and it’s just not happening.”
He joked about having a fast metabolism now, but imagined he would look back in ten years wishing for it. Charlie Cox laughed, adding he would probably miss being that skinny one day. On a more reflective note, Locke also recently opened up about his Heartstopper
character.
Joe Locke opened up about his experience on Heartstopper,
sharing a behind-the-scenes mishap, and reflected on his time filming Agatha All Along
with some unexpected and entertaining moments.
Joe Locke looked back on playing Charlie Spring in Heartstopper
In an episode of Radio Andy’s Smith Sisters Live
, Joe Locke shared lighthearted stories from filming Heartstopper
and Agatha All Along
, keeping the conversation full of laughter. He talked about getting a minor “kiss injury”
during a scene in Heartstopper
Season 3 and joked about accidentally adopting Patti LuPone’s mannerisms on the Agatha
set. He also confessed to obsessively reading the show’s subreddit, laughing about how fans nearly guessed key plot twists.
Joe Locke confessed he was always on edge about accidentally spoiling Agatha All Along,
even warning his friends to stay tight-lipped. He laughed about how tense he felt during every conversation, afraid to give anything away. While Heartstopper
has seen huge success, the story is expected to wrap up with a film instead of another season
. Now, with Locke’s honest take on being typecast, fans are rooting for him to land the kind of roles he truly wants to explore.
Read More: “It’s really sweet”: Joe Locke Reacts to His Fans ‘Coming Out’ After the Release of ‘Heartstopper’
What do you think about Joe Locke’s recent revelations? Let us know in the comments below!