Jonathan Bailey, the star of Bridgerton, has said that he was keen to be a part of Heartstopper.
Last month, it was confirmed that the 36-year-old actor would join the blockbuster Netflix adolescent series for its third season.
Following fan speculation that he had been cast, the streaming service published a brief clip of Jonathan in costume as Jack Maddox, ‘Charlie’s Instagram-famous crush’.
In the video, he walks towards a desk before sitting down, looking at the camera and saying ‘hello’ before it cuts.
The actor has now spoken out about his cameo, stating that he was so impressed while watching the play that he decided to take part himself.
‘Like so many people, I watched the first [season] and thought it was one of the biggest, most beautiful gifts to so many people, and I wish I had that growing up,’ he said.
‘I had a mutual friend who knows [executive producer Patrick Walters] and I just said, “If there’s anything I could do to help and be a part of that story”,’ he explained when being interview by Variety on the Met Gala red carpet this week.
Although he could not say how many days he spent filming for the show, Jonathan did laud the series, which is based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series of the same name.
‘It really has changed the way people can grow and communicate around who they are,’ he continued.
‘It’s not just for our community. It’s for every person who is a member of a family who has a member of the LGBT+ community. It helps all of us.’
Even before Jonathan was formally revealed as a member of the cast, Heartstopper supporters were ecstatic about the prospect of his joining, flooding social media with positive sentiments.
When asked about the support, he said it meant the world.
Hayley Atwell stars as Nick’s aunt Diane, and Eddie Marsan as Charlie’s therapist.
Olivia Colman, who has played Nick’s (Kit Connor) mother Sarah Nelson for the previous two seasons, will be missed by fans.
‘I couldn’t do number three. I couldn’t fit it in. I feel awful about that,’ she told Forbes when explaining a scheduling conflict had meant she couldn’t appear again.
She later added: ‘I feel like I was part of one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been part of.’
Olivia did, however, give fans hope that she would return at some point, stating that she would love to star in a potential fourth season or perhaps her own spinoff.
Bridgerton season 3 part 1 is set to premiere on May 16, with part 2 to follow on June 13. Heartstopper season 3 returns to Netflix in October.
