As Heartstopper comes to an end, the actor celebrates the show’s impact, the importance of representation, and what’s next.

PHOTOGRAPHY Tom J. Johnson
STYLED BY Ursula Lake

When Heartstopper first began filming, Corinna Brown had no idea how massive the Netflix coming-of-age drama would become. But in the world of contemporary young adult TV, it’s now a colossus. “It felt like we were creating this really sweet project and it was our baby,” says the 27-year-old London native, who stars as Tara, the staunch ally of one of the boys in the series’ central love story. “It was just a really nice time on set—there were no expectations at all."&nbsp;
Now, four years after the show’s debut, the&nbsp;Heartstopper universe is preparing for its final chapter with the highly anticipated feature-length finale, Heartstopper Forever, out on July 17. Brown has already tucked away a few pieces from Tara’s wardrobe as keepsakes, and she’s also carrying her character’s ambition into the next stage of her career. “Much like Tara, once I’ve achieved my goal, I’m just raising the bar higher,” she says. One of those goals is continuing to champion stories that reflect a range of lived experiences. “I want to show what Black people, women, and queer people go through, because growing up, I didn’t see many stories like that.”&nbsp;
Brown is proud to have helped tell those stories across three seasons of Heartstopper, which is adapted from Alice Oseman’s wildly popular graphic novels. The series first gained traction online when the author began publishing her stories on Tumblr in 2016; a successful Kickstarter campaign followed, leading to a 2019 print launch. Brown admits she hadn’t read the books before joining the cast. “I was actually gifted the first book after Season 1, and when I started to read it, it completely opened my eyes to seeing, funnily enough, how perfect we all were for the job,” she says.

Corinna Brown. L'Officiel USA July / August Issue.

Part of the show’s enduring appeal lies in its honest yet hopeful portrayal of adolescence—capturing awkward romance, shifting friendships, identity, bullying, and mental health struggles without becoming bleak. “It’s just not a downer show,” Brown says. “It’s uplifting and exciting, and it’s not afraid to talk about important issues.”
For Brown, depicting queer joy onscreen feels especially vital at a time when LGBTQ+ communities continue to face increasing hostility. “One of the things I’m most proud of is the sense of community fans have built through the show,” she says. “It shows people they’re not alone, and that there are like-minded people around them.” She recalls meeting a group of girls who became friends simply because they all loved Heartstopper. “That’s how they found their community,” she says. “I just think that’s so wonderful.”

Corinna Brown. L'Officiel USA July/August Issue.

&nbsp;As Heartstopper winds down, Brown is already setting her sights on what’s next. She has several “secret” projects in the works, is pursuing voice acting, and even does stunt work on the side—an area she’d love to explore further. “Hey, maybe I’ll be the next Tom Cruise,” she laughs. Offscreen, she’s eager for a little real-world adventure, too. “I want to see the world. I want to go on a safari, go to Japan, Thailand, the Galapagos Islands, and I want to see all of Africa—plus the Northern Lights in Alaska,” she says. “I know that’s a big list.”

HAIR: Shennia Thompson CAROL HAYES MANAGEMENT MAKEUP: Bea Sweet THE WALL GROUP SET DESIGN: Annie Alvin

Corinna Brown Is Raising the Bar

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