Kit Connor Says Shaving Chest for 'Heartstopper' Role was 'Intense'

Kit Connor has played Nick Nelson for three seasons on Netflix's "Heartstopper," but it hasn't been easy keeping up his boyish charm.

According to Connor, he has had to wax his chest hair intensely to keep up his youthful look. But Connor told the LA Times that he has learned to embrace the pain

"It was pretty intense, but I had to do it to play a 17-year-old," said Connor. "There are aspects of this season that are leaning into the more mature side of the story, and it needed to feel real. What's beautiful about 'Heartstopper' is it's a really simple, innocent love. But by Season 3, it felt time to start taking the next step and exploring these topics [of sex] that are a huge thing for young people to explore."

Connor said he has also learned to embrace being a role model at 20 years old.

"I never thought taking the role of Nick would make me a role model for anyone," said Connor. "And I don't know if a 20-year-old should be asked to be a role model. Because 20-year-olds are meant to make mistakes and learn from them. It's been an interesting thing to deal with."

For "Heartstopper" creator Alice Oseman, Connor was the perfect actor for how he played the character.

"He's a very sincere actor," Oseman said. "You can really read all of his feelings just from his face. A lot of people played Nick as quite a macho, jock-type character, but he's more gentle and vulnerable and emotional, and Kit caught that and really captured it. And obviously, he looks very similar to the comics, which was an added bonus."

Connor is set to stretch his acting chops in the upcoming war flick, "Warfare," and in "Romeo + Juliet" on Broadway.

Additionally, when Connor returns for season three of "Heartstopper," his character will also be explored from a deeper side.

"Nick has been this perfect man," said Connor. "He never steps a foot wrong. And that's his role on the show, to be a guardian angel for Charlie. But you have to explore the adverse side of that and the pressure that puts on him, which leads to a slightly more interesting story for the character this year."

Read Connor's full interview in the LA Times.