Autistic Actor Bradley Riches Brings More Authentic Representation To Netflix’s Heartstopper
With Heartstopper season two to return to Netflix this year, the hit TV show is set to introduce viewers to new characters, including James McEwan, played by openly gay, autistic actor Bradley Riches, who took to Instagram to make the announcement.
Riches, who previously made a brief appearance in season one, celebrated the reprised role posting to Instagram, when his cameo was upgraded to a named role for season two, playing Truman student James McEwan.
In an interview with Metro, Riches revealed that he’s excited to be part of the Heartstopper universe and passionate about autistic representation on screen.
“I never had this when I was younger, I never saw an actor who was openly autistic, but we’re getting towards the right place with more autistic actors playing autistic roles, which should always be the case, otherwise it’s not truthful representation.
“Someone who hasn’t had lived autistic experiences can’t do the role justice. Netflix and mainstream media at the moment are heading in the right direction, which is really exciting. But there’s more to do.”
Riches is also writing a play about autism, speaking with Revamp Magazine he explained of the project:
“It’s a one-person play, and it’s basically about me – I’m very self-obsessed. It wouldn’t feel authentic otherwise.”
While it’s not yet known if James McEwan’s character in Heartstopper will also be autistic, Riches believes that more autistic actors should play autistic roles for truthful representation.
Alongside Riches, other newcomers to Heartstopper include TikTok star Bel Priestley and theatre star Nima Taleghan.
The second season of Heartstopper is expected to cover events from volumes three and four of Alice Oseman’s original graphic novel series, with the show exploring darker issues and mental health storylines.
