The cast of everyone’s favourite queer Netflix show open up about the brand new season

BY NIC CROSARA

In April last year, the hotly anticipated Netflix adaptation of Alice Oseman’s hugely popular graphic novel series, Heartstopper, premiered and changed the world. It served up a gloriously diverse cast, allowing audiences around the globe to feel seen, some for the very first time. In a world with growing anti-LGBTQIA hostility, the books and show provide a safe space for fans to be reminded of the power and beauty of LGBTQIA love and joy. And with the release of the second season right around the corner, prepare to fall in love with these characters (and some new ones) all over again. ››

Photos Netflix

“Listen to your children”

(Corinna Brown)

While the show centres on the MLM romance between Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), there’s plenty of romantic and platonic love stories to root for – and even more so in season two. In this next instalment we’ll see if best friends Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) can become lovers. And we also get to enjoy more from lesbian power couple Tara and Darcy (AKA #Tarcy), played by Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell respectively, of “you’ve befriended the school lesbians” and “best gal pals” fame.

Joining our Zoom call, Corinna is wearing a Mona Lisa graphic t-shirt and Kizzy is dressed in a pale pink top. Both are equally passionate but Corinna uses her body language for emphasis whereas Kizzy uses their tone of voice. To kick things off, I’m eager to find out more about the casting process and their first impressions of each other. Kizzy tells me that Corinna was cast first. “When we did our chemistry read, she made me feel really at ease, which was sweet,” they explain. “Thanks Kizz,” Corinna says warmly. “I remember it as well. We did the music room scene. After we did it I was like, ‘I hope this person gets it because that was a good one.’”