Charlie begins Heartstopper Season 3 determined to say “I love you” to boyfriend Nick. As creator Alice Oseman tells Tudum, “They don’t need to say it for us to know that they are in love. But when you are a teenager, I think saying the words ‘I love you’ holds so much weight. It’s a big declaration of commitment to someone.” 

On top of his intensifying relationship with Nick, Charlie is also on the verge of a very important mental health journey. Locke, along with Oseman and the rest of his cast, worked on telling Charlie’s story during Season 3 rehearsals. 

“Everyone has their own personal experiences with [mental health] and with the people in their lives who’ve dealt with that,” Locke told Tudum last year during a visit to Heartstopper’s England set. “So I think it’s a very personal thing, what you take from that and put it into the character.”

You can also see Locke as the mysterious character Teen in Marvel series Agatha All Along. 

Nick, just like his boyfriend Charlie, is also on the road to “I love you.” But the rugby player also has a lot of other pressing issues on his mind. 

“Nick is also very ready to say I love you. I just don't think it’s really crossing his mind quite as much at the beginning of Season 3 because he is very concerned for Charlie,” Connor tells Tudum. “He feels like Charlie’s holding something back from him and that is a worry for Nick.” 

Despite the emotional obstacles ahead, Nick is still headed towards some growth. “[He gets] more comfortable with himself when Charlie isn’t there. And that’s an important topic I think as well,” Connor says. 

Connor is one of Heartstopper’s most seasoned young actors. He got his first on-screen credit in 2013 in an episode of Chickens and has since appeared in many TV shows and movies, including The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Rocketman, and His Dark Materials. He made his Broadway debut with Romeo + Juliet, alongside Rachel Zegler. 

In Heartstopper Season 1, Elle enters Higgs as the new girl — and without her longtime pals back at Truham. Along the way she becomes close friends with Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell). And now she’s making even more pals at her new art school. 

Beyond her friends, Elle’s most important relationship is with her BFF turned boyfriend, Tao. In Season 3, we explore their maturing relationship, and how Ellle feels exploring her sexuality as a trans girl. 

“Season 2 was a very adorable. It’s her first kiss, it’s very romantic,” Finney said last year on set. “But this season, it’s more about being an adult … You really see Elle become that strong woman that she’s always been — and the growth.”  

Finney is also a model and popular TikToker. She earned more than 1.9 million followers by posting beauty tutorials, dance challenges, and more personal videos. Since joining Heartstopper she has gone on to star in Doctor Who. 

Tao is the “token straight friend” in Heartstopper and part of Charlie’s support system at school. Tao is protective of all of his loved ones, including Charlie, his girlfriend Elle, and, even now, Nick. In Season 3, Tao is learning more about what drives him. 

“When you’re growing up, there’s a lot of things you’re not conscious [of about yourself] and insecurities that come through as certain [behaviors],” Gao said on set. “Tao is discovering those and becoming aware of those feelings.”  

Gao is making his on-screen debut as Tao, but he’s not new to the art of performing. Gao has worked with the UK’s National Youth Theatre, an organization whose alums include Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. And as a musician, he’s released an EP with his band, Wasia Project.

Isaac is another member of Charlie’s close friend group. He’s always there for his friends and is careful not to take sides. Affable and a great secret keeper, Isaac can rarely be found without his head in a book. In Season 3, he’s continuing his journey as someone who is aromantic and asexual — and surrounded by love-obsessed couples.  

“I haven’t seen loads of other asexual stories being told [on TV], but I feel really grateful that we get to tell this one,” Donovan said on set. “Seeing other people go through the things that you’re going through really validates that what you are feeling is okay.” 

This is Donovan’s first on-screen role. 

On the surface, Tara is a popular girl without a care in the world. But in Heartstopper Season 1, we learn she’s dealing with her own coming-out journey. In Seasons 2 and 3, Tara continues her growing relationship with quippy partner Darcy.

Brown really values her character’s vast optimism. “I like her positivity. No matter what's going on, Tara's mostly looking out for the good in it,” Brown said on set. “She looks at the brighter side, which I think every human being should try.”  

Brown made her on-screen debut in BBC’s 2012 TV movie My Murder, which stars John Boyega. In addition to acting, Brown, a University of Essex graduate, is a singer and practices aerial arts. 

Darcy, Tara’s love interest, quickly makes Elle feel welcome at her new school. In Season 3, Darcy is focused on maintaining a healthy relationship with Tara, as well understanding her own identity as a non-binary person. Edgell is also nonbinary and is grateful for the conversations they had with Oseman about Darcy’s storyline. 

“I really appreciate her taking the time to talk to me about my character, and what makes me comfortable or like myself,” Edgell said on set. 

The actor also admires Darcy’s boundless confidence. “I’m not super confident. I’m a little bit shy,” Edgell admitted. “So Darcy’s absolute belief in her self-worth, unshaken by her mom and unshaken by school — that’s inspiring to me.” 

Heartstopper marks Kizzy Edgell’s on-screen debut. 

Charlie isn’t the only person who enters Heartstopper crushing on Nick. There’s also Imogen, a friendly Higgs girl with a sparkling sense of fashion. In Season 1, Imogen accepts Nick’s romantic disinterest, and ends up becoming a key member of the Heartstopper friend group. In Season 3, she begins questioning what she really wants in a partner — and what her future should look like. 

Norwood makes her on-screen debut in Heartstopper. 

Sahar made her Heartstopper debut in Season 2. Now, she’s another core member of the friend group. In Season 3, she explores a complicated relationship with Imogen. 

Khan won her Season 2 role following a nationwide open casting call in the UK. Heartstopper is her first professional acting role. 

Like many Heartstopper characters, Tori has layers. At first glance, she appears to be the moody and goth half of the Spring sibling duo. But Charlie’s big sister is also someone who loves fiercely — especially when it comes to her brother. Tori is observant and wants the best for her family. 

Tori has a “much bigger role” in Season 3, says Oseman. “Particularly related to Charlie’s mental health journey. Tori is really affected by that because she cares about him so much.” 

The Heartstopper creator urges viewers to maintain a sharp eye on Tori’s bedroom. You’ll spy retro knicknacks and dreamy accents. “The wallpaper is all little stars. I just love the design of that room so much. It really screams Tori Spring,” they say. 

Besides Heartstopper, Walser has also appeared in Call the Midwife. 

It’s time to say “hi” to Heartstopper’s newest friend. Michael enters the series as someone very close to Tori. Over the course of Season 3, viewers — and Tori herself — start to understand their relationship. 

Heartstopper is one of Hand’s first major roles. 

Riches pops up in Heartstopper Season 1 as an unnamed Truham student. In Season 2, he stepped into the limelight as James, someone who enters the orbit of Charlie’s friend group. He has a special connection with Isaac. 

Heartstopper is Riches’ first series. 

Prepare to meet another member of the Nelson family. Diane is Nick’s sweet and thoughtful aunt. 

“Hayley has this natural coolness,” Oseman says. “She’s perfect as the cool aunt who you know Nick could really talk to about anything, and that's the character that we really needed for the scene.” 

Atwell is a Golden Globe–nominated actor whose starring roles include Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.  

Mr. Ajayi, Truham’s art teacher, used to let Charlie eat lunch in his classroom to avoid bullies, and he’s been one of Charlie’s only faculty allies since he was outed. Ajayi wants the best for Charlie, even if that means getting him to enjoy meals with his own peers. By Season 3, he’s exploring a romance of his own.  

Akinade is an accomplished theater and screen actor. He has appeared in The Personal History of David Copperfield and an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, opposite The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and The Lost Daughter’s Jessie Buckley. 

As the lives of your favorite Heartstopper kids grow, so does their school work. Mr. Farouk is a Truham teacher who’s trying to keep his relationship with co-worker Mr. Ajayi private. 

While Heartstopper is Taleghani’s first Netflix project, he has enjoyed a long theater career. He appeared in Royal Shakespeare Company: The Merry Wives of Windsor, National Theater Live: Cyrano de Bergerac, and Royal Shakespeare Company Live: Romeo and Juliet. 

Meet one of Elle’s newer friends. Like Elle, Naomi is also passionate about art. 

Felix is another one of Elle’s new creative friends. 

This is Self’s first on-screen role. 

David is Nick’s older brother who idolizes their less-than-involved dad, Stephane (Thibault de Montalembert).  

Barton previously appeared in the young adult fantasy drama The Letter for the King and the sci-fi series War of the Worlds. 

Harry hasn’t always been the most thoughtful boy at Truham. In Season 1, he bullies Charlie and deploys “jokes” to hurt the people around him. In Episode 7, Harry even uses a homophobic slur, inciting a fistfight with Nick. But, by Season 3, he’s started to turn over a new leaf. 

Heartstopper is Hyde-Corrin’s first role. 

We technically have Mr. Lange to thank for Charlie and Nick’s love story. The Truham teacher is the one who paired up the lovebirds during morning form. 

Turkington has appeared in movies including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Mary Queen of Scots,  as well as in series including Hollyoaks and Mrs. Wilson. 

While Mr. Ajayi is Charlie’s favorite teacher, Coach Singh becomes another one of his Truham mentors. She also gives valuable advice to Nick. 

Pandya has appeared in Feel Good, The A List, and the premiere episode of Black Mirror. 

Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey has a cameo as Jack Maddox, a classics expert and Charlie's Instagram-famous crush. “We thought, ‘OK, this is role is perfect for Jonathan Bailey,’ ” Oseman says. After all, Bailey has been a fan of the series from early on. 

Bailey is an Emmy-nominated actor who also won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2019. Bailey will reprise his role as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton Season 4.

Like all the other kids, Ben is struggling to understand his identity. The only problem is that he takes his insecurities out on others. Prior to Heartstopper Season 1, Ben hooked up up with Charlie in secret while ignoring him in public. Charlie’s self-esteem and mental health suffered due to the hidden relationship. Despite Ben’s popularity, Charlie’s loved ones (including Nick) have a hard time forgiving his behavior. Ben leaves Heartstopper after Season 2. 

Sebastian Croft is one of the more experienced young actors in the series, having started his on-screen career in 2014 in Idina Menzel’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside” music video. He also played a young Ned Stark in two episodes of Game of Thrones in 2016 and had a guest arc on Penny Dreadful. Croft was a voice actor in Season 2 of Love, Death & Robots. He also appeared on an episode of Doom Patrol. 

It’s impossible not to love Nick’s mom, Sarah. In the Season 1 finale, Nick has a heart-to-heart with his mother where he comes out as bisexual and reveals his feelings for Charlie. Ever the great mom, Sarah accepts her son for who he is. She steal even more hearts in Season 2. 

Colman won an Oscar in 2019 for leading the black comedy The Favourite. In 2021, she took home an Emmy for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown. Colman has also appeared in The Lost Daughter, Watership Down, and Fleabag. 

Heartstopper Season 2 welcomed a new member of the Nelson family to the table. Stephane is Nick’s mysterious father. 

De Montalembert has starred in the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, the French comedy Call My Agent!, and the action thriller AKA.