Joe Locke

Joe Locke is a gay British 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 Netflix's LGBTQ+ series "Heartstopper" (2022–present), 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 Disney+ Marvel series "Agatha All Along" (2024), playing a mysterious character with a compelling queer arc, and made his Broadway debut in the Sondheim revival of "Sweeney Todd." At 21, Locke is one of the most prominent and beloved young openly gay actors in the world.