Joe Locke

Joe Locke is a gay Manx actor who came out at age 15 -- long before he became a professional actor -- and has been openly gay for his entire public life. He broke through internationally playing Charlie Spring, one half of the lead romance in the LGBTQ+ series Heartstopper (2022), based on Alice Oseman's beloved graphic novel. The show, which centers the tender, slow-burn romance between gay Charlie and bisexual Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), became a global phenomenon beloved by queer youth for its joyful, affirming portrayal of queer first love. Locke has spoken about the particular resonance of playing a gay teenager who is already out at the start of the story -- a narrative choice that refuses the coming-out drama as the default framework for queer stories. He went on to star in the Marvel series Agatha All Along (2024), playing Billy Maximoff, a young queer witch with a compelling arc, and made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in a Tony-nominated revival of Sweeney Todd. Locke is one of the most prominent and beloved young openly gay actors working today.