Glass Man speaks to British actor CHARLIE HEATON on how he managed to clinch a starring role in Netflix’s hit sci-fi horror series Stranger Things without ever going to drama school
Every good film storyline has a plot twist. Something we could’ve either foreshadowed or that comes as a complete surprise. For our protagonist in this story, Charlie Heaton, the narrative that led him to having a lead role in Netflix’s behemoth drama series, Stranger Things, takes a turn in the form of the latter. “It’s crazy to think about it now, but within the space of 15 to 16 months I had gone from absolutely not acting to shooting Stranger Things,” explains the 28-year-old on the phone to me from New York.
“It was one of those pinch-me moments – it just all happened so quickly and my life completely changed.” And though the scale of this shift is ineffable to formulate, it’s clear that the novelty of his tale is not lost on him.
Photographer: Damien Fry
Born in Yorkshire, Heaton grew up with his mother and sisters on a council estate in Bridlington with his sights set realistically on what was possible for the future. “When I was a kid, and I am talking like a little kid, I didn’t have any concept that it was possible to become an actor, or that it was even something that you could do,” he says after mentioning his fun times at his local youth theatre. “I moved to London at 16. I had been playing in bands at that point and my uncle had a recording studio so I would work there on the weekends.”
Photographer: Damien Fry
Indulging in his inherent love for music and penchant for the drums, he began touring the UK with the indie band Comanechi, accumulating “moderate success” – as he puts it. “Honestly at that time, I thought I was going to be doing this for at least the foreseeable future. It’s kind of where my passion was, I liked being in bands,” reflects Heaton honestly.
But after a few tours, the drummer was left somewhat in need of money, so in 2014 he decided to join a talent agency to earn something on the side. “It wasn’t like ‘Ok, I want to try and be an actor’,” he clarifies. “It was the opposite. I heard you could make decent money doing commercials, so I thought why not try it?”
At this point, the plot is about to thicken. It wasn’t long after meeting a casting director and agent that he began popping up in minor roles across British television – and though he may not have been particularly memorable to viewers, the credits he was gathering were compelling.
Photographer: Damien Fry
Then one day an email came through of an eight-page package titled The Montauk Project by the Duffer Brothers. It had traces of Stephen King, references to Jaws and Hellraiser, explanations of adult and kid roles, along with the pilot episode script. “It was set on a beach; I think I drove a moped and my mum was from Long Island,” he recalls.
“There was a video clip montage of different ‘80s movies that they’d cooked together to try and represent the feel of the show.” Instinctively remembering the enrapturing feeling he got from this thorough hybrid of ideas, he decided to tape himself in his bedroom in London.
Within two weeks, he was flown to America to do a screen-test after a call with the directors – but I wondered how the then-unknown actor was picked from an ocean of others?
“I remember in that Skype call we talked a lot about the music that I was listening to at the time,” says Heaton counting New Order and Velvet Underground as acts on his playlist. “I aligned with the music and maybe my reserved nature helped. I had that rawness to me, I didn’t go to [drama] school so I maybe had this energy about me, but you would probably have to ask them.”
Photographer: Damien Fry
The final hurdle before getting the role of Jonathan Byers was a reading with his co-star Natalia Dyer. “They just wanted to make sure that we had some chemistry, and it turns out we do have good chemistry,” he chuckles, hinting at how his on-screen relationship would soon become his off-screen one too. And though there is a fascination with any celebrity relationship that I was tempted to probe on, his palpable smile on Zoom was enough to say it all.
Photographer: Damien Fry
What came next was the release in July 2016 of the first series, titled Stranger Things. In its first 35 days, 14 million people had watched the show and by now more than 190 million households across the world have at least watched a single episode.
Coming into its fourth and penultimate season, the plot continues to span across multiverses and intersections of reality bringing monsters to life against a soundtrack fit for a New York club in the 1980s. After taking a much-needed hiatus, the cast return but this time the episodes have super-sized, and the budget has extended to a reported $30 million per episode – fitting for a show that is anything but ordinary.
Amid the noise, flashbacks, and demons, how did Heaton’s character evolve? “When I was reading it this year, what I was trying to take from it was this insecurity in himself. He’s so unsure about the future and the future with Nancy,” says the actor reflecting on the second episode where Jonathan confides in his friend Argyle [Eduardo Franco] about his internal conflicts. “I think sometime when you’re afraid of rejection from the other person, it’s easier to push them away.”
Photographer: Damien Fry
Despite the all-encompassing attention that this series has garnered, it has only lightly scratched the surface of what this Brit is capable of. “I don’t want to go to a different set with a different project and just do what I know. There’s no challenge in that. It would feel lazy and, like, a disservice to only play that one role,” says Heaton. “I think when you are pushed to it, you kind of bend, get through it and learn. I didn’t go to acting school, so I am learning as I go. I don’t think I’m finished. I wouldn’t expect myself to be a finished article. I think it’s good to push yourself to be a bit afraid.”
Photographer: Damien Fry
Heaton’s quick ascent to stardom may still be somewhat hard to describe or even imagine, so I wrap up by asking him what his highlight has been. “I never expected to be here – like at all,” replies Heaton frankly. “I remember the call I got when I booked my first movie. I was staying at a hostel called Banana Bungalow in LA. It was Shut In [thriller, 2016] with Naomi Watts. I was walking down the street for 20 minutes calling everyone that I know, telling them. It blew my mind. I never thought I would be doing this.” Not bad for an unexpected plot twist.
by Imogen Clark
The fourth series of Stranger Things is now streaming on Netflix
Photographer: Damien Fry
Stylist: Aryeh Lappin
Grooming: Kumi Craig at The Wall Group using SISLEY PARIS
Photography Assistant: Matthew Hefferin
Styling Assistant: Jesse Leonard
All clothing and accessories from the DIOR Fall 22 men’s collection