Biography

Joseph William Locke was born on 24 September 2003 and grew up in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, a small island located between England and Ireland. He attended Ballakermeen High School, where he distinguished himself both for his artistic talents and his social engagement, notably advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. While still in high school, Joe and three classmates submitted a petition to the local authorities requesting a feasibility study on hosting Syrian refugees on the Isle of Man.

From an early age, he developed an interest in theatre and actively participated in performing arts through local productions, notably at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas. He also played leading roles in productions that were later performed across the UK as part of the National Youth Theatre’s Connections festival, in Bath, Cardiff, and Inverness.

Joe Locke rose to prominence through his role as Charlie Spring in the Netflix series Heartstopper, adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels. Selected from over 10,000 candidates in an open casting call, he portrayed this gay high school student seeking tenderness and stability with precision and emotion. His gentle, authentic, and vulnerable performance left a lasting impression on audiences, making Joe one of the most recognized faces of the younger LGBTQ+ generation on screen. The success of Heartstopper was immediate and international, propelling his career forward.

He made his first professional steps on stage in London. In 2022, he participated in a public reading of Oriol Puig Grau’s play Karaoke Elusia at the National Theatre. That same year, he made his professional theatre debut in the dystopian play The Trials by Dawn King at the Donmar Warehouse. He portrayed a young person involved in a fictional trial against generations responsible for climate change. His performance was praised for its gravity and maturity, proving he could tackle powerful texts far beyond teen drama.

In August 2022, following a video message he shared during the Isle of Man Pride Parade calling for a reform of the “archaic” rule prohibiting gay men from donating blood, the island’s Health Minister, Lawrie Hooper, announced that the regulation would be changed.

In 2024, Joe Locke made his Broadway debut, taking on the role of Tobias Ragg in the cult musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His performance in this demanding role, combining singing and emotional depth, was critically acclaimed, confirming his talent in the performing arts and highlighting his versatility. That same year, he joined the Marvel universe in the series Agatha All Along, a spinoff of WandaVision, sharing the screen with Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, and Aubrey Plaza. This project marked a shift towards a darker and more fantastical register, allowing him to explore new facets of his acting.

In early 2025, his engagement and activism were formally recognized when he received the Impact Award from the Human Rights Campaign for his contribution to amplifying LGBTQ+ stories and voices worldwide, as well as the Breakout Award for promising young talent at the 2025 UK & Ireland Honours of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

In the fall of 2025, Joe Locke will return to the stage, this time in London’s West End, in Samuel D. Hunter’s play Clarkston. He will take on the lead role of Jake, a young gay man living with Huntington’s disease, in a poignant drama about friendship, loneliness, and survival in a disenchanted America. This demanding and deeply human role marks a more mature turn in his artistic career.

Source: Wikipedia

© This biography was written exclusively for Joe Locke Web. Last updated: July 2025.