'Heartstopper' Star Joe Locke Reveals How He Went Back into the Closet

"Heartstopper" star Joe Locke, who plays openly gay teen Charlie in the hit Netflix rom-com dramedy, revealed in a recent interview with The New York Times that he came out publicly at the age of 12 before hastily retreating back into the closet and staying there for several years.

Locke, who identifies as queer, was interviewed jointly with his co-star Kit Connor in advance of the show's sophomore season. Connor plays bisexual teen Nick, the boyfriend of Locke's character on the show. Connor came out as bisexual himself in a tweet last year, after being pressured on social media and accused of queerbaiting.

Addressing the issue of coming out, Connor told the Times, "Telling someone you're gay or bi or part of the queer community, there's a thing where you feel like they might see you differently or think that it would change who you are.

"For me, it's just who I am," Connor added. "Coming out didn't change me."

It was at that point that Locke offered his own experience, saying that after he came out to his mother at age 12, he "was on top of the world". He posted about it at Instagram.

However, "I quickly realized I was ready to tell my mum but I was not ready to tell the world," the actor, now 19, recalled. "So I quickly deleted it and said my Instagram had been hacked. I went back in the closet for three years."

When he came out again – this time for good – "I retold all my friends," Locke said, "and they're like, 'Yeah, you told us two years ago.'"

The Times recounted the poignant moment that followed, as Locke mused that "Twelve-year-old me would be very proud, and terrified" of his being openly gay at this point.

A moment later, Locke tearfully acknowledged, "I'm getting emotional," and went on to say: "I've never thought about it in that sense before, which is weird because I've thought about the show a lot."

The show's second season sees Connor's character, Nick – a popular rugby player – hesitating about coming out as bisexual to his teammates and school friends, although he has told his mother (Olivia Coleman). Charlie, meantime, has been out for some time – and experienced bullying for being gay. Not wanting that for Nick, Charlie offers unstinting support and encourages Nick to take his time.

The second season of "Heartstopper" premieres at Netflix Aug. 4.