Charlie Spring

Charlie Spring is one of the two protagonists 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	Nancy (maternal grandmother) Richard (maternal grandfather) Emilio Spring (paternal grandfather) Kathleen Spring (paternal grandmother) Antonio (uncle) Jules (aunt-in-law) Clara (cousin) Esther (cousin) Rosanna (cousin) Wendy (aunt) Sofia (aunt) Omar (uncle-in-law)
Nationality	British/Spanish
Education	Truham Grammar School for Boys

Character overview

Charlie 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, such as Solitaire, Nick & Charlie, and This Winter.

Character history

Charlie was born on April 27th to Julio and Jane Spring. He is Tori Spring's younger brother and Oliver Spring's older brother. ^{[note 2]} 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

Charlie 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 INFP/The Healer.^[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

Literature

• 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

• Heartstopper (2022–present)

Reception

Both the character's portrayal in the books and Netflix series has received universal acclaim from critics and fans. Critics viewed Charlie's journey in Heartstopper 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

1. In the television adaption, Oliver is portrayed as Charlie and Tori's cousin.
2. In the television adaption, Oliver is portrayed as Charlie and Tori's cousin.

See also

• Nick Nelson (Heartstopper)
• Heartstopper (graphic novel)