Fans can’t stop talking about the new Netflix teen LGBTQ+ drama TV series, which is already rated nine out of 10 on IMDB. Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel of the same name, Heartstopper is about two boys, Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who fall for each other at secondary school while dealing with homophobic abuse. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) “It’s a beautiful story of acceptance, love, friendship and happiness. It shows the really nice things about being queer,” Joe Locke, who plays the high-strung, sensitive Charlie, told The Independent . But just who is the 18-year-old rookie actor who is sending hearts aflutter with his touching performance? 1. His acting dream was just a hobby Locke grew up with a huge passion for acting and drama. When he was not at school, he spent all his time performing in amateur theatre. He once even asked his mother if he could attend five different acting lessons at once. “She’d say, ‘Joe, I really need you to pick just one or two because you have zero free time!’” he recalled with 1883 Magazine . The Oscars slap aftermath: what will happen to Will Smith’s career? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Heartstopper (@heartstoppertv) However, the son of a schoolteacher mother and newsagent father later looked at acting as a hobby rather than a career. “I’m from the Isle of Man and it’s really hard to break into the industry from there,” he told Behind the Blinds . “I know lots of extremely talented people who have ended up going back and working office jobs because they haven’t been able to get that chance.” 2. His break came with a role in Heartstopper , beating 10,000 other hopefuls Last year, Locke, without an agent or any professional film experience, sent a self-made tape to Heartstopper ’s open casting. He got a Zoom interview and another, and another, before an audition. When he got the role, he couldn’t believe he was selected from among 10,000 other teenagers until he walked onto set, thinking, “Oh my god, this is actually happening! This is actually a real thing that is happening!” he revealed to 1883 Magazine . Eles e a Nellie na neve 🥺💙 pic.twitter.com/BnCZlaZXFz — netflixbrasil🍂 (@NetflixBrasil) April 23, 2022 “This is literally all of my dreams coming true at once. I’m living my dream,” he added. 3. His Instagram grew from 1,000 to almost two million Locke was thrust into the spotlight right after his casting was revealed. His Instagram followers rose 15 times, from 1,000 to 15,000, according to The Independent. Since the show was released on April 22, his account now sits at nearly two million followers, increasing every day. Who is the richest Pink Floyd member? The band’s net worths, ranked “We have such a great support network around us, but it’s been zero to 100 in regards to pace. It’s been the heartbeat of the fandom that has made it for us. They’re such a lovely group of people that it doesn’t feel as big as it might’ve been if it was another project,” he said to 1883 Magazine. 4. He can play the drums Locke learned to play the drums for Heartstopper , thanks to Netflix’s support in sending him a drum kit, he revealed to 1883 Magazine . But he had actually prepared Charlie’s playlist before he even got the role. “Looking back, now I’m wondering why I did that! What if I didn’t get the part? I have a few songs that are very ‘Charlie’ to me that I love,” he said. 5. He is an emotional person While Charlie cries on his older sister’s shoulder in one scene in the show, blaming himself for trouble he got from peers, Locke cried over some scenes off screen too, such as when Nick comes out as bisexual to his mother. “I don’t want to spoil episode eight, but one of the very last scenes made me cry when we were reading through. Then watching them film it made me cry, and then watching it on screen made me cry, too. It’s so touching. It’s going to mean a lot to young queer kids,” he told 1883 Magazine . 6. He believes the LGBTQ+ community deserves happiness After reading the show’s script, Locke really wanted to be a part of it because he “felt like there are not many shows out there that depict the positives of growing up as a queer person”, he shared with Behind the Blinds . 20 celebrities who haven’t seemed to age since 2000 “I think a lot of queer people growing up feel like they don’t deserve love, because they don’t have access to the same dating pool or support as straight people do. Heartstopper is so lovely in that it gives that to queer characters,” he told The Independent . The Setup // The Shot pic.twitter.com/i2MDdDxxwa — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 25, 2022 “I think it’s really important to push the idea that no matter who you are, or what you identify as, or your sexuality, you’re allowed happiness,” he added, speaking to Attitude . 7. He wants to be Disney’s first gay prince Recognising the importance of dramas aimed at a younger audience, Locke said he hoped to see more shows like Heartstopper . “ It’s a Sin and Euphoria tell the more serious and hard-hitting issues of what it is to be queer, but I think it’s also equally important to have the more loving and positive stories of being queer,” he said, per Hello ! He also wishes to appear in a second renewed series or other projects that “mean something”. “I would love to play the first gay Disney prince,” he told The Independent . “That would be a dream.” Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .