Meet the cast of Heartstopper, Netflix’s LGBTQ+ teen drama

"It goes into some dark subjects, so subjects that are real, very real, and very hard," cast member Corinna Brown – who plays Tara Jones – exclusively told RadioTimes.com on the red carpet at the BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises ahead of season 3's premiere.

Alongside plenty of familiar faces, there are a handful of new characters in the new instalment of the Netflix series, with the likes of Jonathan Bailey, Hayley Atwell and Eddie Marsan joining the cast in cameo roles.

One character who won't be back on our screens in season 3 is Sebastian Croft's Ben, who left after season 2. "Ben's role in Heartstopper is now complete," the author previously told Netflix's Tudum.

Olivia Colman's fan-favourite character Sarah Nelson is also absent from our screens in the new instalment. The actor previously revealed that she wouldn’t be returning to the show for season 3 due to scheduling conflicts, but hasn't ruled out a potential return one day.

Keen to know more? Read on for everything you need to know about the Heartstopper season 3 cast.

Who's in the cast of Heartstopper season 3? Full list

The main cast for Heartstopper season 3 is as follows but scroll down for everything you need to know about their characters, plus where you may have seen them previously.

• Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
• Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
• William Gao as Tao Xu
• Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
• Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
• Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olson
• Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
• Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
• Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
• Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
• Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi
• Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh
• with Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes
• Darragh Hand as Michael Holden
• Hayley Atwell as Aunt Diane
• Jonathan Bailey as Jack Maddox
• Eddie Marsan as Geoff

Read more about the other major players below.

Kit Connor plays Nick Nelson

Who is Nick Nelson? Nick Nelson is a student at the same grammar school as Charlie Spring. They meet for the first time at the start of season 1, having not spoken previously due to their age gap and different social circles.

However, Nick's reputation precedes him as the standout star of the school's rugby team, with a promising sporting future ahead of him. He quickly becomes fond of Charlie after getting to know him in form, but the strength of his feeling forces him to address some tough personal questions – ultimately coming out as bisexual to his mother.

"You've already seen him come out to his mum and it was a super big thing, a really wonderful, beautiful thing for him," said Connor. Now he has this seemingly gargantuan task to slowly come out to the other people in his life and the people he cares about.

"But then also, the audience starts to get a bit more context for Nick's family life. We're introduced to his dad and his older brother. Both are still kind of strangers for him in a way."

What else has Kit Connor been in? Connor portrayed a young Elton John in the singer-songwriter's hit biopic Rocketman, which released in cinemas back in 2019. He also provides the voice of Pan, daemon to Lyra Belacqua, in BBC drama His Dark Materials. Previously, he has appeared in SS-GB, War & Peace and Grantchester.

Joe Locke plays Charlie Spring

Who is Charlie Spring? Charlie is a student at an all-boys grammar school, who is outed as gay earlier than he would have preferred people to know – and is relentlessly bullied as a result. The harassment eventually simmers down (although doesn't stop entirely), with close friends Tao, Elle and Isaac helping him through the toughest times.

Later, Charlie begins a secret and toxic relationship with closeted student Ben Hope, which comes to an end when he's introduced to rugby lad Nick Nelson in his form tutor. There is an instant spark between them, with their friendship soon evolving into romance over the course of a school year.

In season 2, they are officially boyfriends, although not everybody is aware of this fact. Charlie is anxious to prevent Nick going through the same trauma as he did, risking his own mental health to "protect" him.

"The most obvious thing that's bigger in Charlie's story this year is an outward confidence in both himself and his relationship," said Locke.

"Charlie had this quiet confidence in season one. He's able to ask Nick out and all of those things, which I think take a lot of guts. But in season two, we see more of feisty Charlie.

"He stands up for what he believes in and that was so fun. He's maturing a lot as well. All the characters are maturing this season. It's fun to see and it's fun to grow with them."

What else has Joe Locke been in? Heartstopper marked Locke's screen debut, having been cast in an open audition. He is also currently starring in Marvel's Agatha All Along and made his Broadway debut this year in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Tobias Ragg.

Read more:

• Joe Locke on Heartstopper season 3, filming sex scenes and famous fans
• Kit Connor on "sweet and tender" sex scenes in Heartstopper season 3
• Heartstopper's Alice Oseman opens up on tackling sex and mental health in season 3

William Gao plays Tao Xu

Who is Tao Xu? Tao is one of Charlie's best friends and is fiercely protective of him. He is sceptical when Nick starts spending time with Charlie and fears he could be taking advantage of his good nature. Generally, Tao is easily alarmed by anything that threatens to endanger the friendship group he loves so dearly. In season 2, his relationship with longtime friend Elle begins to evolve as they wonder whether romance is the logical next step.

"Tao's growing up and we see a big maturity in him as he discovers how he's feeling and why he's feeling what he's feeling," said Gao. "This growth is also linked to his arc with Elle as their beautiful relationship unfolds.

"We get to see their love blossom with some hiccups along the way, but it's all learning. And I think most of all, Tao learns a lot more about himself. By the end of the season, we have a much more mature and thought-through Tao than we did in season 1."

What else has William Gao been in? This is William Gao's on-screen debut.

Jack Barton plays David Nelson

Who is David Nelson? David is Nick's older brother and a university student. He holds homophobic views and seeks to cause trouble when he discovers that his sibling is dating a boy.

What else has Jack Barton been in? Barton has previously appeared in The Letter for the King, The Pursuit of Love and War of the Worlds. He has also been cast in the second season of SAS Rogue Heroes.

Yasmin Finney plays Elle Argent

Who is Elle Argent? Elle is another close friend to Charlie and Tao. She is transgender and was forced to move schools after suffering cruel treatment from students and teachers alike. Things have improved vastly since she started attending a nearby all-girls school, making friends with fellow LGBTQ+ students Tara and Darcy. In season 2, she'll be questioning what the future holds, exploring a potential romance with Tao and options for further education.

"This season, there are a lot of emotions with Elle because she's just so loving and she's so caring," said Finney. "She cares too much in that sense. She cares about what everybody thinks about her. She cares about Tao too. She cares about her results. She just cares about everything way too much."

What else has Yasmin Finney been in? Heartstopper was Finney's acting debut, but she had previously found success posting to social media website TikTok. She joined the cast of the 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who, playing a character called Rose.

Kizzy Edgell plays Darcy Olsson

Who is Darcy? Darcy is Tara's girlfriend, known for her quirky and outspoken personality. However, her tendency to use humour as a crutch stems from trouble elsewhere, with her difficult home life to be explored in season 2.

"Darcy is great because she's not in any way confused. She knows. And being able to feel that concretely and see someone that is so confident in who they are, so unconcerned with how the rest of the world sees her, I think is really great," said Edgell.

"And it's good that she uses the word lesbian, rather than 'a girl who likes girls' or anything like that. The word lesbian and the use of the word lesbian in this show is really important to me, because it's seen a lot of the time as a dirty word."

What else has Kizzy Edgell been in? This is Edgell's on-screen debut.

Cormac Hyde-Corrin plays Harry Greene

Who is Harry? Harry is a bully who attends Truham Grammar School for Boys. He frequently targets Charlie and Tao with hurtful comments, some of which are overtly homophobic. Initially, Nick was reluctantly friends with him as they both played on the rugby team, but he has since cut all ties in a show of loyalty to Charlie.

What else has Cormac Hyde-Corrin been in? This is Hyde-Corrin's on-screen debut.

Corinna Brown plays Tara Jones

Who is Tara Jones? Tara is a student at the all-girls school that Elle joins. She and her girlfriend, Darcy, strike up an instant rapport with Elle after meeting one morning and form a close-knit friendship group. Tara and Darcy have been public about their relationship for some time now, but their communication as a couple could use some improvement.

Creator Alice Oseman explained: "Tara and Darcy have been dating the longest out of all our show’s couples, but they haven’t ever said the words ‘I love you’... until Tara blurts it out by accident. When Darcy doesn’t say it back, this triggers each of them to spiral and question each other’s feelings.

"Of course, it wouldn’t be Heartstopper if I couldn’t reassure you that everything will be okay in the end... but Tara and Darcy have some quite big things to learn about each other before their relationship can truly level up."

What else has Corinna Brown been in? Brown has previously appeared in BBC Three television film My Murder, starring John Boyega, as well as long-running medical soap Doctors.

Tobie Donovan plays Isaac

Who is Isaac? Isaac is one of Charlie's close friends, who often hangs out with him, Tao and Elle. He is more introverted than the other members of the group, preferring to have his head in a book than attend a raging party. Creator Alice Oseman has previously confirmed that Isaac is asexual, which will be a key topic addressed in season 2.

What else has Tobie Donovan been in? Heartstopper is also Donovan's on-screen debut.

Rhea Norwood plays Imogen

Who is Imogen? Imogen is a student at the nearby girls grammar school, who has known Nick for some time and once harboured a crush on him. Nick ultimately broke off their flirtation in an emotionally charged conversation, but is yet to formally come out to her as bisexual.

What else has Rhea Norwood been in? Norwood has starred in Channel 4's Consent, Prime Video's Your Christmas or Mine 2 as well as short film Killing Them With Kindness.

Jenny Walser plays Tori Spring

Who is Tori Spring? Tori is Charlie's older sister, who is generally introverted but cares about what's going on in her brother's life. She is the main character in Alice Oseman's novel Solitaire, which is set before the events of Heartstopper.

What else has Jenny Walser been in? In 2021, Walser played Louise Wrigley in the 10th season of BBC drama Call the Midwife.

Fisayo Akinade plays Mr Ajayi

Who is Mr Ajayi? Mr Ajayi is the art teacher at Charlie's school and a fellow member of the LGBTQ+ community. He looks out for Charlie and allows him to eat lunch in the art classroom on days when he faces harassment in the playground.

What else has Fisayo Akinade been in? Akinade's previous credits include The Personal History of David Copperfield, Silent Witness and zombie drama The Girl with All the Gifts. He is also known for playing Dean Monroe in Russell T Davies dramas Cucumber and Banana. Most recently, he guest starred in Atlanta season 3 and had a regular role in Dangerous Liaisons.

Nima Taleghani plays Mr Farouk

Who is Mr Farouk? Mr Farouk is a new teacher at Truham Boys School, whose stern tone never fails to silence a room full of rowdy kids. He becomes close to Mr Ajayi when they're faced with the challenge of taking a group of students to Paris.

What else has Nima Taleghani been in? Taleghani has previously appeared in BBC dramas Casualty and Danny Boy as well as ITV true crime adaptation Hatton Garden.

Thibault de Montalember plays Stephane Nelson

Who is Stephane Nelson? Stephane is Nick's father, who has been absent for much of his formative years, living in France and not regularly making contact.

What else has Thibault de Montalember been in? de Montalember is probably best known to UK viewers for his role in acclaimed comedy series Call My Agent!. He also had a supporting role in last year's Oscar contender All Quiet on the Western Front and Timothée Chalamet's The King.

Ash Self plays Felix

Who is Felix? Felix is a trans student at an art college that Elle is considering applying to.

What else has Ash Self been in? Self is relatively new to acting, but has a growing social media presence sharing their experience as a trans disabled person. They are also pursuing a career in stand-up comedy.

Bel Priestley plays Naomi

Who is Naomi? Naomi is another trans student at the same art college. She and Felix instantly bond with Elle over their shared experience as trans people, forming a supportive friendship group.

What else has Bel Priestley been in? Priestley is also known for her social media presence, amassing a huge audience on TikTok while chronicling her transition.

Leila Khan plays Sahar Khan

Who is Sahar? Sahar is a student at Higgs Girls School, who teams up with Tara, Darcy and Elle to plan an ambitious prom.

What else has Leila Khan been in? Heartstopper is Khan's on-screen debut.

Bradley Riches plays James McEwan

Who is James McEwan? James is a Truham student with a crush on Isaac.

What else has Bradley Riches been in? Riches is also making his on-screen debut in Heartstopper. A great place to start!

Darragh Hand plays Michael Holden

Who is Michael Holden? Michael has been described as a "quirky, eccentric optimist with a sunshine disposition". In Oseman's novels, Michael is a love interest for Charlie's older sister, Tori.

"It was a challenge to find someone who I felt truly channelled Michael from the books," Oseman wrote on Instagram announcing the news. "But then Darragh came along and warmed out hearts, made us all laugh so much, and perfectly complimented Jenny Walser's Tory Spring."

What else has Darragh Hand been in? Hand has been in a handful of projects, most recently starring as Kai Locke in Silent Witness and as Leo in Grace. He most recently appeared in the stage production of Dear England as Marcus Rashford.

Hayley Atwell plays Aunt Diane

Who is Aunt Diane? Based on Oseman's novels, Diane is Nick's maternal aunt. In the comics, Diane suggests to Nick that he should bring Charlie to Menorca the next year.

What else has Hayley Atwell been in? Many fans will recognise Atwell for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has starred as Peggy Carter in Agent Carter, the Captain America movies and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She is set to lead the upcoming animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, voicing the titular character.

Jonathan Bailey plays Jack Maddox

Who is Jack Maddox? Described as an Instagram classicist, Jack is someone who Charlie (Joe Locke) has a bit of a crush on.

What else has Jonathan Bailey been in? Bailey is known for his roles in Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers, Broadchurch and W1A. He is also set to star in the Wicked movie, as well as in Jurassic World: Rebirth.

Eddie Marsan plays Geoff

Who is Geoff? Geoff is Charlie's therapist and seeing as season 3 is set to explore more about Charlie's eating disorder, we can expect to see Geoff pop up to help Charlie in his recovery.

What else has Eddie Marsan been in? Marsan is no stranger to the big screen, having starred in countless films over the years. He is known for his roles in Ray Donovan and more recently, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, The Power, Back to Black and Supacell.

Heartstopper season 3 is now available to stream on Netflix along with seasons 1 and 2.

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