JOSHUA BASSETT

Disney star Joshua Bassett, of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, takes centre stage about navigating fame, his body image battle and why he is thinking outside the box when it comes to his sexuality

Words Thomas Stichbury

Joshua wears tank top, by Uniqlo, knitwear, by Thom Browne, trousers, by Linder, necklace, by Mulberry, ring, stylist’s own

Photography Petros Kouiouris Styling Nicholas MacKinnon Fashion director Joseph Kocharian

Looks like we may have uncovered a new member of Mariah Carey’s ‘I Don’t Know Her’ club, as it transpires Joshua Bassett once royally snubbed Jennifer Lopez. Oh, the shade of it all; to be fair, he was only a wee mite, so we’ll cut him some slack.

“When I was eight, I was a background actor in a movie with Jennifer Lopez. I had talked to her and her co-star a few times, and as I was leaving the set, my dad was, like, ‘Go say goodbye to them.’

“I didn’t know who Jennifer Lopez was, but the other guy was super nice to me and welcoming, so I went over to the guy and gave him a hug. Then Jennifer Lopez opened her arms to hug me, and I went, ‘Nope,’ and ran back to my dad. I have no idea why, but I just did not want to hug Jennifer Lopez,” he laughs.

Our interview coincides with that rarest of occasions: a (wretchedly) hot summer’s day in the UK. I am holed up in a tiny room, with no air con, and as soon as I punch the video-call launch button, the sweat instantly begins to pour. Please note, dear reader, that I’m also wearing a light grey t-shirt. One word: shit.

The curly-haired Disney star pops up on screen, his skin almost cruelly un-damp, and I profusely apologise for my current state, a glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut in human form, while elegantly mopping some excess moisture from my brow. “All good,” he says, with a smile. “I’ll ignore it, don’t worry.”

Rocketing to fame as Ricky in the snappily titled High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – the Disney+ spin-off of the all-singing, all-dancing original that gifted the gays Ashley ‘Sharpay’ Tisdale (bet y’all thought I was gonna say Zac Efron) – Joshua won the role in the nick, or rather, nickel of time.

“Two w eeks before I booked High School Musical… I woke up to the notification from Chase Bank that I had a negative dollar and 32 cents in my bank account. I was living in LA, and had rent due, and was, like, I don’t know how we’re going to figure this out, but we will.