Package Connor modified his exercise routine earlier than returning to play Nick in season 2 of Netflix’s Heartstopper — a choice influenced by the present’s followers.
Connor, 19, recalled having his physique get in comparison with the graphic novel model of Nick Nelson, a teen rugby participant. “I wouldn’t say I used to be compelled into it by followers, but it surely was me as a younger grownup coming to phrases with the physique that I had and feeling I wasn’t utterly geared up to play the function,” he informed Vulture in an interview revealed on Tuesday, July 17. “That wasn’t a great way of considering, however I used to be a teen. I nonetheless am.”
The actor rose to stardom after becoming a member of the TV adaptation of Alice Oseman‘s Heartstopper e book collection. Connor performs a highschool athlete who begins to query his sexuality after growing a friendship with fellow scholar Charlie (Joe Locke).
After Heartstopper blew up on social media, Connor discovered himself — and his courting life — on the heart of fan consideration. He addressed accusations of queer baiting in October 2022 after being noticed spending time with Maia Reficco, his costar from A Cuban Lady’s Information to Tea and Tomorrow.
“Again for a minute. i’m bi. congrats for forcing an 18 yr outdated to out himself. i feel a few of you missed the purpose of the present. bye,” Connor tweeted on the time.
Earlier this month, Connor mirrored on feeling strain to publicly come out.
Package Connor in season 1 of ‘Heartstopper’. Courtesy of Netflix
“I simply felt prefer it wasn’t one thing I used to be prepared to speak about. I wasn’t offended. I used to be simply barely dissatisfied by this response,” he informed British Vogue on July 4. “I feel there’s nearly a sense that as a result of I’d been within the business for a short while, there was nearly this understanding that it’s like, ‘Oh, effectively, he can take it.’ I feel ‘compelled’ isn’t the proper phrase I’d use, however I’d say that I’d have most well-liked to do it one other means. I additionally don’t know if I’d have ever carried out it. However on the finish of the day, I don’t remorse it. In some ways, it was actually empowering.”
Connor additionally mentioned coming to phrases together with his sexual orientation earlier than his involvement with Heartstopper, including, “It was only a very pure course of for me. I didn’t actually have an ‘Oh, s—t’ second. It simply grew to become increasingly more evident.”
The Rocketman star admitted that he struggled to slot in as a result of stereotypes round bisexuality. “It’s the expertise of possibly you’re too straight to be homosexual and also you’re too homosexual to be straight. So, it’s like, ‘The place do I sit?’ However I really feel rather more safe in myself now,” he defined.
