Heartstopper Star Joe Locke on Sweeney Todd Broadway Debut and Screaming at Kathry

Posted by Martina Birk on Friday, August 2, 2024

The 20-year-old British actor also reflects on coming out as gay at such a young age: "I've never been someone to apologize for who I am"

Joe Locke, the breakout star of “Heartstopper,” has always had dreams of being on Broadway. Now, at just 20 years old, the British actor has made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in the Tony-nominated revival of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

After his first performance in late January, he posted photos and video of himself from the show with the caption, “Little Joe would be happy rn.” His “Heartstopper” co-star Kit Connor and music superstar Olivia Rodrigo were among those who messaged their congratulations in the comment section.

“It’s very pinch-me all the time, which is great,” Locke says on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “But every night I’m like, ‘What am I doing?’ – in the best way.”

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Locke acted in amateur stage productions until he was about 15 in an old Victorian theater in his native Isle of Man. “The smell of that theater is one of my favorite smells in the world — the old, dusty, not been dusted in a hundred years, moldy, wooden [and] Victorian,” he says. “I have such fond memories of that place … I am very grateful for that experience and I think that’s what really led me to want to do this. So then to be able to now come back to theater five to six years later but on Broadway is a very surreal, strange and an incredible experience.”

He received opening night flowers from Patti LuPone with a note reading, “Joe, be present, have fun, and breathe. Love Patti.”

Locke and the Broadway legend became friends while filming “Agatha: Darkhold Diaries,” Marvel’s upcoming “WandaVision” spinoff starring Kathryn Hahn as well as Aubrey Plaza. On if he and LuPone break into song on the show, Locke plays coy. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to answer that, which is an answer in itself, I guess,” Locke says, adding, “Ask me again at the end of the year.”

“Agatha” is slated to premiere on Disney+ in the fall. An exact date hasn’t been announced.

Locke landed his still mysterious role after a chemistry read with Hahn. He was flown to Los Angeles for 24 hours. “Me and Kathryn were wearing matching Vans and I remember [executive producer and head writer] Jac Schaeffer taking a picture of our matching Vans, and then that was the point I was like, ‘Okay, maybe this is going well,’” Locke remembers.

He also said the chemistry read became his favorite scene on the show. It’s an argument between his character and Hahn’s Agatha. Locke surprised Hahn by screaming at her in the take that eventually made the final cut. “It worked for the scene, it was amazing, and I just remember that feeling like, ‘Wow, this is the coolest. I’m working with this most amazing actress,'” he says. “It was great. I really think it’s going to be a very, very, very good show and I’m very excited for it to come out.”

Locke wrapped “Heartstopper” Season 3 in December. Locke and Connor reprise their roles of Charlie and Nick, respectively. Season 2 ended with the two coming out as a couple at school.

Locke describes the upcoming season in three words: “Grown-up, hormonal and growth.”

Locke came out when he was 12. He discussed his sexuality publicly for the first time in a Teen Vogue interview in August.

“I do see the impact that the show and I guess us as a cast being unapologetically us has had on people, but I think I’m just living my life,” he says. “I’ve never been someone to apologize for who I am and I don’t think anyone should ever do that. My friends will tell you that much.”

He offers advice to young people who may be struggling with their sexuality. “Just be you,” Locke says. “Everyone’s experience is different … I have an amazing group of people around me, but yeah, just be you. That’s all you can be.”

Locke is living on his own in New York City after spending six months shooting “Agatha” in Atlanta. Despite “gallivanting” around the world the last couple years, he still loves going home to spend time with his mom: “The last time, I took a shower and I left my underpants on the bathroom floor, and she’s like, ‘It’s just so nice having you throw your clothes on the floor again. I’ve missed you being here.'”

You can listen to the full conversation with Joe Locke above. You can also find “Just for Variety” wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

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