Jonathan Bailey shares how he got his Heartstopper cameo: ‘I just said…’
"Like so many people I watched the first series and I just thought it was one of the biggest most beautiful gifts"
Jonathan Bailey has opened up about how he secured a cameo role in the upcoming third series of Heartstopper.
The Bridgerton actor, 36, will play the Instagram-famous classicist and crush of Charlie (Joe Locke) Jack Maddox. The character appears to have been based on the similarly named Henry Maddox from the Heartstopper mini-comic by Lauren James.
Chatting to Variety on the red carpet at the Met Gala on Monday (6 May) the Fellow Travelers star said: “Like so many people I watched the first series and I just thought it was one of the biggest, most beautiful gifts to so many people. I wish I’d had that growing up.”
On how he got a cameo he then explained: “I had a mutual friend who knew Patrick [Walters] who’s the producer and I just said, ‘If there’s anything I could do to help and be a part of that story’.”
Speaking further on Heartstopper Bailey said it was “something that really has changed the way people can grow and communicate who they are.” He added that “it helps all of us” whether viewers are LGBTQ+ themselves or not. Bailey also said “It means the world” when he hears from fans about what his representation means.
He then shared he had recently seen Joe Locke in Sweeney Todd on Broadway, which he described as “electric.”
It was confirmed last month that Bailey was joining Heartstopper alongside Hayley Atwell and Eddie Marsan. It followed fans speculating that the Wicked star had joined the cast after images of him were shared widely on social media.
In March, it was confirmed that the third season of the popular series was confirmed for October. Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, and Kizzy Edgell are set to return. Tobie Donovan, Leila Khan, Rhea Norwood, and Jenny Walser will also reprise their respective roles.
Heartstopper seasons one and two are streaming now.