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Sitting down with Jenny Walser is a bit like stepping into a scene from Heartstopper itself: there’s an effortless warmth and humour that makes you feel right at home. Off-screen, Jenny is candid, clever, and down-to-earth. For those who think they know her from Tori’s deadpan sarcasm, her genuine enthusiasm for everything from theatre to Doctor Who might surprise you.

Jenny, who’s taken Tori Spring from a background character to a central, much-loved part of the show, brings a fresh, natural energy to the screen. With Heartstopper’s Tori Spring, she’s found a role that matches her talent, sharp-witted, deeply layered, and utterly real. As a breakout star in the series, she brings life to the complex character who has quickly become a fan favourite. In her words, Tori’s “really starting to come into her own” this season, a development Jenny plays with a mix of humour, warmth, and precision.

While chatting with Jenny, you catch glimpses of her passion and enthusiasm. Her genuine excitement over Tori’s evolving storyline and her hopes of exploring more of Solitaire’s original narrative make it clear that she sees Tori as more than just a role; she’s someone fans can relate to and someone Jenny is eager to continue exploring.

We caught up with Jenny to dive into her journey in Heartstopper, her bond with Tori, and her dreams for what’s next, all while exploring the perfect blend of humour and heart that makes her shine both on and off screen.

You’ve quickly become a rising star with a fanbase that adores Tori Spring. How has being part of Heartstopper changed your life, both personally and professionally?

Jenny Walser: There’s no question, Heartstopper has changed my life.

As an actor it’s always an incredible thing to just be working, but I count myself very lucky to have been surrounded by the most incredible, hardworking & talented people, and to have learnt a huge amount about myself not just as an actor but as a person.

Tori plays a bigger role in Season 3 so a new experience to contend with has been a few more people noticing/recognising me in public. It’s honestly quite bizarre, but lovely to know people are enjoying my work!

Shows like Heartstopper shine a light on the importance of showing diverse stories and characters. How does it feel to be part of this positive change in television, especially for young viewers who might see themselves reflected in the characters?

JW: You really can’t underestimate the importance of representation on screen. Feeling seen, understood and less alone can change someone’s life - sounds cheesy but it’s completely true.

I know people have sometimes found Heartstopper can also be a useful tool to help explain what they’re going through to others, for example the scene where Nick comes out to his mum or the storyline surrounding eating disorders this season. It’s incredibly special to know our show can be that support for people.

There’s a lot of conversation around how actors connect with the darker or more complex sides of their characters. How do you personally relate to Tori’s more introverted, sarcastic nature? How much of your own personality do you bring to her, and are there aspects of her that challenge you as an actor?

JW: I’m naturally quite a sarcastic and cynical person, and my humour tends to be on the dry-side so I found it easy to tap into that part of Tori’s personality.

I can also tend to live up in my own head and get caught up there, and that’s something I definitely felt worked for Tori. She’s someone that doesn’t say much out loud but at the same time has a huge amount to say; there’s a ton of emotion and turmoil going on inside but she bottles a lot of that up.

One thing I did find challenging was that Tori hardly ever cracks a smile or laughs. I can definitely revert to that, if only as a defence mechanism or people pleasing behaviour, so it was tough to keep her steely-faced the entire time. It’s something I could actually steal from her a bit - that confidence not to mould into a more ‘palatable’ version of herself for others.

If you could spend a day with Tori Spring in real life, what do you think you’d do together? Or would you even want to?

JW: I would definitely want to hang out with Tori, although I don’t know if the same could be said for her!

I’d imagine we’d go to a film, say very little and slurp on cinema-sized lemonades.

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Tori Spring has really stepped into the spotlight in Heartstopper Season 3. With her character’s growth, what are your hopes for Tori’s journey in a potential Season 4? What would you love to see for her next?

JW: Tori’s really starting to come into her own, it’s been so fun to see and to play. I particularly love the addition of Michael Holden to the equation and would love to see more of their dynamic because I think they’re both adorable and hilarious - also I want people to see more of Darragh’s performance because he’s totally brilliant.

For people that don’t know, Heartstopper actually all started with Alice’s first novel called ‘Solitaire’ which focuses on Tori and goes into a lot more depth about her life and mental health struggles. Selfishly I would love to explore some of the Solitaire storyline in future.

You’ve mastered playing characters with wit and sarcasm, like Tori. But what’s one thing about you that would totally surprise people who only know you from your roles?

JW: It might surprise people to know I’m a huge Formula 1 fan. I try to watch every race, even if they’re on at 4am UK time. It’s bordering on an unhealthy obsession at this point…

I’d also really recommend everyone take a look at the work the young women of Formula 1 Academy are doing. There’s some incredible talent coming through and it’s so exciting to see more coverage for women in the sport.

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The title of our magazine, PIBE, stands for Play It By Ear, embracing the beauty of spontaneity and the unexpected. With that in mind, what’s a fun, spontaneous moment on the Heartstopper set that pleasantly surprised you or made you stop the scene altogether, turning it into a memorable experience?

JW: One very popular scene from Season 2 involves me kicking a phone out of someone’s hand, but for technical and I guess also safety reasons we had to fake the stunt so my foot actually never comes into contact with the phone.

On one take I missed my aim and actually kicked the phone right out of Jack’s (plays David Nelson) hand, which I found pretty funny, even if the crew didn’t.

It could’ve been the perfect take, but we had to stop the scene because I corpsed, oops.

As you think about the road ahead, what’s on your bucket list for your career? Any bold dreams or projects you’re eager to explore?

JW: I fell in love with acting on the stage and started my career there, so I’m really keen to get back to that. In an ideal world I’d love to perform in the West End or do a Shakespeare at The Globe. I’ve also not yet worked on a film, so that’s definitely something I’m keen to get into. British independent film is a really exciting place to be at the moment, with some incredible young directors/producers/cinematographers coming up through the ranks, so I’d love to get my teeth stuck into something like that. I’ve also made no secret of the fact my lifelong dream is to be in Doctor Who, so that’s something I’m still working on…

Interview / Lucas Pontidas, Managing Editor, PIBE

This PIBE exclusive has been produced by:
Photography / Iakovos Kalaitzakis
Styling / Joanne M Kennedy
Make up / Joey Choy using Pat McGrath Labs
Hair / Masashi Konno using Mr. Smith
Talent / Jenny Walser
Production Assistant / Simon Alexa
Photographic Assistant / Cinsy Tam
Styling Assistant / Olivia Luke

An Exclusive Interview with Jenny Walser: Delving Into the World of the Heartstopper Star

© PIBE MAGAZINE 2024

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