Yasmin Finney has said she would like to play a role that represents “realism” as she opens up about her success in Heartstopper on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old actress, who became a sensation in April 2022 after the Netflix show first aired, has now said the show creates a “world of escapism” for LGBTQ.
Teen novel Heartstopper follows two British teenagers, Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who develop a friendship that grows into something more.
In the series, Yasmin plays Elle Argent, a trans girl who attended Truham Grammar School for Boys before coming out. She later transferred to Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls.
Speaking about the series, Yasmin, who is transgender, said Hungry magazine that she would like to take on the next role she takes on, to show that “life ain’t easy.”
Yasmin Finney has said she would love to play a role that represents ‘realism’ as she talks about her success in Heartstopper on Tuesday
The 21-year-old actress, who became a sensation in April 2022 after the Netflix show first aired, has now said the show creates a ‘world of escapism’ for LGBTQ
She said: ‘I would like to play a role that is a little more in the world of realism, that shows that life is not easy.
“I think there’s a sense of fantasy when it comes to Heartstopper. It’s a world of escapism. I think most LGBTQ shows overemphasize that idea of realism, whether that’s abuse, transphobia, or hate crimes. They create a realistic image.
Yasmin also revealed that she’s feeling the “pressure” ahead of the release of the fourth and final season of the hit Netflix teen show.
She said: ‘Of course there will be pressure, but it’s about making sure you’ve done your best. You hope that everyone will love it, but I think overall it’s important that the actor feels comfortable and confident with the work they’ve put into a show and hopes that it will resonate with people at the way they want.
Yasmin also teased that there will be “lots of kissing and lots of touching” in the upcoming series.
It comes after the Heartstopper star candidly admitted last year that she doesn’t think she will ‘ever be in love’ and opened up about how men have ‘let her down’.
Yasmin gave her very candid thoughts on love and dating as she talked Cosmopolitan Britain with some of her co-stars from the hit Netflix show.
She was joined by Kizzy Edgell, Rhea Norwood and Corinna Brown for the wide-ranging interview, as the stars all dressed up a storm for a sensational cover shoot.
Yasmin plays Elle Argent, a trans girl in the teen series, and attended Truham Grammar School for Boys before coming out. She later transferred to Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls
About the series, Yasmin, who is transgender, said: ‘I would like to play a role that is a little more in the world of realism, which shows that life is not easy’
She added: “I think there is a sense of fantasy when it comes to Heartstopper. It’s a world of escapism. I think most LGBTQ shows overemphasize that idea of realism, whether that’s abuse, transphobia, or hate crimes. They create a realistic image’
Yasmin candidly admitted that she is too ‘sure’ of herself to ‘lower herself’ for someone else and opened up about how she feels that men have ‘always’ let her down.
She told the publication: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love. I’m too sure of myself to put myself down for anyone else who isn’t “with me.”
‘It’s what singer Eartha Kitt said: “I want to fall in love with myself and… I want someone to share me with me.” But it’s hard. Men let me down all the time.”
Yasmin went on to admit that she found the response to the first series of Heartstopper ‘amazing’ as she became famous overnight.
Before her role on the show, adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, Yasmin was a student and confessed she didn’t realize how popular Heartstopper would become.
She said: ‘I didn’t know how big Heartstopper would become. When I was cast as Elle at the age of 17, I was thrilled to play this amazing trans woman living authentically.”
“I was still figuring out who I was, so it was mind-boggling to see the reaction to Elle. Who I am will always be something people want to talk about, but individuals should never be seen as a political playground.”
“The great thing about Elle is that she is so natural, confident, happy and real that she will always be my hero.”