Joe Locke is 23 years old. The Manx actor, born in Douglas, Isle of Man, on September 24, 2003, is best known for playing Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper (2022–2024). Chosen out of 10,000 actors in an open casting call, Locke went from a schoolboy on the Isle of Man to an Emmy-winning star, and he has since joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Billy Maximoff in Agatha All Along and played Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd on Broadway.
Joe Locke Quick Facts
| Full Name | Joseph William Locke |
| Date of Birth | September 24, 2003 |
| Age | 23 years old |
| Birthplace | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Net Worth | Approx. $3 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2026) |
| Known For | Heartstopper; Agatha All Along; Sweeney Todd |
Who Is Joe Locke?
Joe Locke is a Manx actor who became a global star as Charlie Spring, the shy schoolboy at the center of Netflix’s Heartstopper (2022–2024). His performance won him the Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in 2025, and he returned to the role in the feature-length finale Heartstopper Forever (2026), which he also executive produced. In 2024 he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Billy Maximoff, also known as William Kaplan, in Disney+’s Agatha All Along, and he made his Broadway debut the same year as Tobias Ragg in a revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Locke was still a schoolboy when he was cast in Heartstopper — he was 17 at the time of filming and was studying for his A-level exams in politics, history and English. He was chosen out of 10,000 actors in an open casting call, and the series made him one of the most recognizable young actors of his generation. Like his Heartstopper co-star Kit Connor, Locke built his career on a breakout streaming role — and, like fellow young British actor Luke Newton, he has moved between television, film and the stage.
Joe Locke’s Early Life & Background
Joseph William Locke was born on September 24, 2003, in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man. His paternal family is Irish. His father runs a newsagent, and his mother is a special needs teacher. He attended Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, where he took part in the National Theatre’s Connections productions at the Gaiety Theatre and the Kensington Art Centre’s youth group. While still at school, Locke and three fellow students submitted a petition to government officials asking them to investigate the feasibility of welcoming Syrian refugees to the Isle of Man.
Locke told ITV’s This Morning in April 2022 that he was studying for A-level exams in politics, history and English at the time Heartstopper was released. He had no professional acting experience before Heartstopper — he was chosen for the role of Charlie Spring out of 10,000 actors in an open casting call, and he was 17 when filming began. The experience of growing up as a young gay man on the Isle of Man gave him a personal connection to Charlie’s story, and he has spoken publicly about the parallels between his own life and the character’s.
Joe Locke’s Career
Locke made his professional acting debut as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, which premiered in April 2022. The series, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, quickly developed an enthusiastic international following, and Locke was nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance for the first season. Netflix released the second season in 2023 and the third in 2024, and Locke won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Performance in 2025. In April 2025, a feature-length Heartstopper finale film was announced, with Locke and Kit Connor serving as executive producers; Heartstopper Forever was released in July 2026.
In 2022, Locke made his stage debut as Noah in The Trials at the Donmar Warehouse, winning the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut Performance. In 2024 he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the mysterious “Teen” — later revealed to be Billy Maximoff, also known as William Kaplan — in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along, opposite Kathryn Hahn. The same year he made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in a revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, earning a Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite Replacement (Male).
Locke continued to work on stage and screen in 2025 and 2026. In September 2025 he made his West End debut as Jake in the UK premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s Clarkston at the Trafalgar Theatre, opposite Ruaridh Mollica. He is set to appear in Simon Stone’s Ian Charleson biopic Elsinore (2026), alongside Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman, and in the films Black Church Bay (2026) and Baby. He also returns as Billy Maximoff in the Disney+ series VisionQuest. In 2025 he received the Human Rights Campaign Impact Award and the Newport Beach Film Festival Breakout Award, and he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series for Agatha All Along.
Facts About Joe Locke
- He was chosen for the role of Charlie Spring out of 10,000 actors in an open casting call.
- He won the Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in 2025.
- He made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd in 2024.
- He won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut Performance for The Trials in 2023.
- Locke came out as gay when he was 12, and he has spoken publicly about his experiences as a young gay man from the Isle of Man.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Joe Locke?
Joe Locke is 23 years old. He was born on September 24, 2003, in Douglas, Isle of Man.
What is Joe Locke’s net worth?
Joe Locke’s net worth is approximately $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2026).
What is Joe Locke best known for?
Joe Locke is best known for playing Charlie Spring in Heartstopper (2022–2024).
Who did Joe Locke play in Agatha All Along?
Joe Locke played Billy Maximoff, also known as William Kaplan, in Agatha All Along (2024). The character was initially introduced as “Teen.”
Did Joe Locke appear on Broadway?
Yes. Joe Locke played Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd on Broadway in 2024.
How old is Joe Locke?
Joe Locke is 23 years old. He was born on September 24, 2003, in Douglas, Isle of Man.
What is Joe Locke’s net worth?
Joe Locke’s net worth is approximately $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2026).
What is Joe Locke best known for?
Joe Locke is best known for playing Charlie Spring in Heartstopper (2022–2024).
Who did Joe Locke play in Agatha All Along?
Joe Locke played Billy Maximoff, also known as William Kaplan, in Agatha All Along (2024). The character was initially introduced as “Teen.”
Did Joe Locke appear on Broadway?
Yes. Joe Locke played Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd on Broadway in 2024.
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