Charlie Spring is a primary character in the Alice Oseman graphic novel series Heartstopper as well as its 2022 Netflix adaptation, where he is portrayed by Joe Locke.[1] His first appearance was in the 2014 novel Solitaire.
| Charlie Spring | |
|---|---|
| Heartstopper character | |
 Joe Locke as Charlie Spring in Heartstopper | |
| First appearance | Solitaire (2014) |
| Created by | Alice Oseman |
| Portrayed by | Joe Locke |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Charles Francis Spring |
| Nickname | Charlie, Char |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Student |
| Family | Julio Spring (father) Jane Spring (mother) Tori Spring (sister) Oliver Spring (brother)[note 1] |
| Significant other | Nick Nelson |
| Relatives |
|
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Truham Grammar School for Boys |
Character overview
editCharlie Spring is the boyfriend of Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) in the graphic novel series Heartstopper and its 2022 Netflix adaptation. In the franchise, Charlie is gay, a skilled drummer, and a book lover. Charlie loves Nick deeply and aspires for him to be happy. Charlie's character is quiet and insecure but fond of animals. He is fairly tall, with dark, curly hair and blue eyes. Outside of the Heartstopper franchise, he also appears in other works by Alice Oseman.
Character history
editCharlie was born on 27 April to Julio and Jane Spring. He is Tori Spring's younger brother and Oliver Spring's older brother. His father is of Spanish descent, and his mother is British. Charlie was accidentally outed as gay to his entire school by his best friend, Tao Xu. Due to frequent bullying, being outed, and the toxic relationship with his ex-boyfriend Ben Hope, he suffers from multiple mental illnesses, primarily anxiety, anorexia, depression and OCD.[2][3]
Personality
editCharlie is uptight, shy, sensitive and insecure. He is also empathetic and hates seeing other people cry, especially Nick. Charlie is fond of reading, dogs, and playing the drums. He also enjoys Ancient Greek classical literature and Keith Haring's work. Charlie's MBTI type is ISTP/The Adventurer.[4] Tori describes him as being nice, a characteristic she believes is underrated and can be taken advantage of. Charlie is portrayed as left handed in the graphic novel but as right handed in the show due to his actor being dominant in his right hand and not his left.
Appearances
editLiterature
edit- Solitaire (2014)
- Nick and Charlie (2015)
- This Winter (2015)
- Radio Silence (2016) (cameo)
- Heartstopper (2019–present)
- Volume 1 (2019)
- Volume 2 (2019)
- Volume 3 (2020)
- Volume 4 (2021)
- Volume 5 (2023)
Television
edit- Heartstopper (2022–present)
Reception
editCharlie's journey in Heartstopper unfolds as a remarkable tale of self-discovery and growth. Charlie's battles with past bullying and self-doubt showcase his resilience. When he confides in Nick about his struggles with self-harm, it not only deepens their bond but also exemplifies Charlie's bravery in confronting his demons. His quest for love and acceptance connects strongly with viewers, especially when he finds it in a charming character like Nick. He was ranked 1st in a 2023 ranking of the 10 Best Heartstopper Characters, Ranked by Likability by Collider.[5]
Footnotes
edit- ^ In the television adaption, Oliver is portrayed as Charlie and Tori's cousin.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Craig, David (10 August 2023). "Meet the cast of Heartstopper, Netflix's LGBTQ+ teen drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Barr, Sabrina (4 Aug 2023). "There were signs of key Charlie Spring storyline before Heartstopper season 2". Metro. Retrieved 21 Oct 2023.
- ^ Wong, Curtis (July 4, 2023). "Nick And Charlie Venture To Paris In Heartstopper Season 2 Teaser". HuffPost. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Oseman, Alice (August 3, 2023). "Character Profiles". Vox. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Elauria, Jom (Aug 8, 2023). "The 10 Best 'Heartstopper' Characters, Ranked by Likability". Collider. Retrieved Oct 21, 2023.