Kit Connor and Joe Locke, stars of Netflix's Heartstopper, have opened up about the series' final chapter, Heartstopper Forever, addressing the inclusion of sex scenes, queer escapism, and their emotional farewell to the characters that launched their careers. The feature-length film, releasing on Netflix from 17 July, follows Nick and Charlie as they navigate adulthood, university, and gap years, with higher stakes and more mature themes.
Sex Scenes and Mature Themes
In an early scene, the pair engage in sexual activity on a pier, with scenes of mutual masturbation also featured. Connor explained the decision: 'It's a line that you have to walk: "How far are we going to take this?" But at the end of the day, it did feel like these two guys are really attracted to each other at the age where they probably would have been doing it.' Locke added: 'It would be weird if we hadn't shown it. Just because our show is a more earnest version of a queer representation doesn't mean that sex [shouldn't be shown]. It's still a big thing for anyone in the world.'
Connor joked about his initial desires for the characters: 'If I'd had my way, I would have had Nick and Charlie cheating on each other and doing all those stupid things. Because young people do that and don't necessarily need to be villainised for it. Heartstopper Forever takes a step in that direction of not being so rose-tinted about being human.'
Filming Challenges and Intimacy
Filming intimate scenes remained awkward for the actors. Connor laughed: 'In a silent room with lots of middle-aged men.' Locke added: 'A camera right next to your face while you're wearing a cock sock.' Despite the discomfort, both agreed the scenes were necessary to authentically portray the characters' relationship.
End of an Era
Connor reflected on the emotional end of the series: 'There have been moments where I've had flutters of emotion. Will [Gao] and I did our last scene together the other day, and I was like: "Oh fuck, this is quite upsetting." These characters have meant a lot to us over the years and we'll always carry them with us.' Locke echoed the sentiment, calling the cast 'family' and noting that the young actors lived together during filming seasons two and three.
Locke, who had never acted before Heartstopper, credited the show with transforming his life: 'Heartstopper changed my life in every single way. I wouldn't be able to live in London at 22 without it. I wouldn't be doing acting. My life would be completely different.' He later joined the Marvel universe in 2024 via the TV series Agatha All Along.
Queer Representation and Escapism
The series has been praised for its positive queer representation, including homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality, as well as trans joy. Yasmin Finney, who plays trans artist Elle Argent, said: 'Heartstopper is a form of escapism for queer people. It's not about: "Look what's happening in the world, feel sorry for us." It's more: "This is what queerness can be and it's beautiful and it transforms in many different ways." But I think it's just as important to have realism as it is to have escapism.'
Locke addressed reports of declining viewership for season three, which was down about 30% compared with season two: 'I don't know how true that figure is, but the Heartstopper audience has been loyal throughout. I didn't feel like season three had any less of an impact.' He emphasized the importance of the show in hostile environments: 'What's great is that Netflix is everywhere. So even in these countries where you can't be so openly queer, Heartstopper is still on Netflix and people still have access to it.'
Advice to Younger Selves
Asked what advice they would give their younger selves at the start of Heartstopper, Locke said: 'Just enjoy it. It's a very weird and strange and stressful thing, and I know I got in my head about it.' Connor added: 'I'd probably say something similar. It shouldn't be scary. Heartstopper is one of the more beautiful things you could ever do. So embrace the beauty of it.'
Both actors acknowledged the support they provided each other. Locke noted: 'I can't imagine how you'd deal with it on your own. It's happened to all of us at the same time, so it's really nice to just have that support. Especially as it's such a unique thing.'
Final Scenes and Denial
Their final scenes together were shot in Burnham Park in Buckinghamshire, a location that has appeared throughout the series. Locke smiled: 'It was just us two, which is a nice way to end it, like a very nice loving scene.' Connor wondered if they were in denial about the series ending: 'This press tour is a way of telling your brain that: "Oh yeah, it's not actually done yet." But after this, then I think it may hit us, because there's a feeling of: oh, wow, it's in the past.' He paused: 'That's it, school is out.'
