Bringing in all facets of novelty and positivity to the world of Heartstopper, Corinna Brown poises to be at the forefront of the series as she portrays the persona of "Tara Jones"; a quirky, extroverted, and immensely sweet soul always witnessed to be supporting her friends through their ups and down. 

Being a part of a project screaming such visceral success, Brown showcases a performance imbued with positivity and resilience. 

In our latest cover story, Corinna Brown reflects more about Tara's arc, what it was like getting to portray her character once again for the third installment of the LGBTQ+ inclusive project, and what the fans can expect from this forthcoming season of Heartstopper. 

Brown also reveals significant insights into her experience performing stunts in Netflix's 'Vikings: Valhalla', and 'SUPACELL' alongside her involvement as a stunt double in Disney's upcoming film 'Snow White'. 

Thank you for joining me! Now that we are almost approaching Season 3 of Heartstopper, I would love to take you back to those initial stages of this show. 

Do you remember your first impression of Tara when you first read the books or were first offered the script?

When I first got the script, I had no idea about the Heartstopper franchise. I didn’t know it was a comic. I also didn’t know it was on the web first. But I remember reading the monologue that Tara does in the music room in Season One and being like, ‘Oh, my God, I want to play this character. She seems so layered; like she was obviously talking about coming out and how that felt but you also got the sense straight away since Alice (Oseman)is such a wicked writer. 

I got the sense straight away that Tara was such a warm person and she was always worried about other people whilst trying to navigate how she felt about herself. 

I initially was really excited and would have loved to play something and someone this layered because as an actor that’s such a cool and bitey thing to get into, which is why we do it.

And how was it like getting back into the shoes and mindset of Tara. Do you think it was much easier to portray her now that you have embodied her over the course of all these past two seasons or was this season a bit harder for you to play her and you faced any sort of challenges.

I think it was an interesting experience because I’ve never actually really played a character before Tara and then I had to go back and do that so I know between Season One and Season Two, I was really nervous about it since I’ve grown as a person, and obviously time’s passed. And I always thought how do I carry on and jump back into her shoes? 

But honestly, the minute we’re back on set; it’s an amazing cast and crew and the moment you get into costume, in hair and makeup, I was like, ’Oh, yeah. This is like riding a bike’. 

You never really forget how to do it and it was the same for Season three as well. It was also nice because we got a new director and I’ve never experienced working with someone on Heartstopper before who wasn’t Euros (Lyn) so it was nice to have him allow us to just bring our characters out since he said it best. 

Andy (Newbery) was amazing. He was like, ‘You guys have had two years with these characters already so I know that you know them and I trust and can see you bringing them out.’ 

So, yes, it was not as scary as I initially thought it was going to be. And Tara, she’s in there so she comes out straight away as soon as I put that uniform back on.

Your character Tara is that fun, really adorable and really supportive friend that I feel like is not just a want but a need for everyone to have a friend like her in their friend circle. 

So, who according to you is the Tara of your real life? Or do you think you’re the Tara in real life too in your own group?

I’m definitely not the Tara in real life. My friends will tell you that, they’ll be like, ‘No’. (Laughs)

I think that would have to be my best friend Jazz. She is my Tara. She’s the glue for everyone, she helps us through it. It wouldn’t be me since I’m a bit more Darcy energy. (Laughs)

Coming back to the show, we did see a lot of introspective moments into Tara and Darcy’s relationship especially with that heartwarming conclusion towards the end of Season 2 but what is in store with their relationship in the forthcoming project?

There’s a lot more of them in this season actually. I can’t delve too much into it, although, if you’ve read the comics, you probably know.

But, yes, they are still very much as strong as ever within themselves and their relationship, but I believe this season, they both really help each other with what they’re going through a lot more. They do lean on each other which is nice and they still are very much in love and very much Tara and Darcy. 

Every actor has an element they take away from their experience on the project-, be it the set, the costumes, the script, anything. So, I’m very curious to know what element was it that you took away from your time at Heartstopper?

I’m really lucky, I think. I’ve taken away some great friendships. Like, honestly, everyone’s amazing. I have some new best friends from working on the show. But also as an actor, I think it’s been one of my biggest TV jobs. 

So, I’ve learnt how to deal with early mornings on set, how to deal with jumping back and forward between scripts and what we’re shooting and how to get into like those spaces as well as what I need to do to make sure I’m ready to go for a long day.

I’ve learned so much from my Heartstopper experience and I can imagine there is so much more to learn which is exciting.

Besides Heartstopper, you have also showcased your impeccable abilities as a stunts performer in another Netflix project “SUPACELL”. It was so astonishing not just for me but I think for everyone to see that reveal when they mentioned you as one of the stunts people behind this massively successful project.

So, how did you lure towards the landscape of stunts amidst your extremely successful acting journey and decide this was something you wanted to pursue as well.

Since I’ve been young, I have not been able to sit down. (Laughs)

I’m like a busybody. I used to dance and have always had a love for physical activity. I trained at East 15 on the acting and stage combat course which has now changed to acting and fight performance which I think is good since it encapsulates everything that we do so it’s not just for stage clearly. 

I studied there for three years and then once I graduated, I actually did an aerial course that included hoops, silks and that’s when I found out that I actually loved being upside down and doing crazy moves. People say it’s scary but I find real enjoyment in it. 

I started when I did a horror film called 'Dashcam’ and did my first wired jerk back which is what one of the moves was called. That’s when I first did my stunts. This came about and I felt a little bit free… not as free as I probably should have been (laughs) but I was like I can make this work.

And SUPACELL was great to be on like just to wrap my mind around an idea for a black superhero show, I was like, ‘I’m in!’ And that I wanted to be involved in any way, shape or form so when the stunts double job came up, I was like ‘Absolutely!’ and it was really fun to do.

And how was that experience like with performing the stunts. Did you face any challenges while trying to do those stunts or perhaps any memorable moves you learned from your time on set?

Well, I think every time I step onto a job to do stunts, there is an element of fear. I’m scared and I’m not sure what we’re going to be doing that day. But yes, I’d say maybe I was just nervous because it’s a new set. You don’t know everyone. You want to impress. So that was nerve-wracking.

I’d say I got to do a lot more ‘explosion-y death' type stunts since obviously that was the nature of the show. You got people pushing wind at you which was really fun.

And some of those things were quite hard because you have to imagine what and how would your body be moving for instance if a gust of wind was strangling you primarily so that was a challenge of how to get my body moving in that manner but it was definitely more fun than nerve-wracking.

Like I said before, I take lessons from every experience so dealing with nerves when you’re meant to be the one that’s not afraid of anything because you’re the stunt double but sometimes you do get nervous and learn how to deal with that.

SUPACELL has also been renewed for another season so can we see a Corinna Brown comeback as a super stuntsgirl or perhaps even you being involved as an actor in this next one?

I don’t know about that. I think you’d have to start a petition and everyone to help message Netflix and be like, 'We want to see Corinna as a character!’ That’d be good. (Laughs) 

But, yes, I don’t know. I’m just excited that the show has got another life and there’s more to come because it was wicked to watch and to be a part of it. So yes, who knows?

You have been doing a lot of Netflix project for acting and stunts; most recently also now involved in the latest season of “Vikings: Valhalla” too. 

Vikings has such a massive fanbase out there, so were you introduced to the world of Vikings and its characters prior to joining the production?

Do you know, it was really good, but controversially, I’d never actually watched it. And that’s actually quite controversial. 

From when I was at University, the Vikings show started coming out and everyone was obsessed. But for me, I’m like if everyone’s hyping something up and talking about it, I’m not going to watch it straight away. 

And to be fair, I didn’t actually make it around to watching any of it prior to being on it but it was very fun. It dealt with one of my favourite weapon systems which is sword and shield.

So to be in a battle scene, brawling with them… it’s quite funny because everyone’s like massive. And I’m like this five-foot little Corinna. But that didn’t seem to be a problem for them, so I was absolutely loving it. And I’m obviously a huge fan of the show now.

And straying the conversation back to Heartstopper, what can you tell us about this upcoming season. Is there anything you can reveal about your own character arc or perhaps the overall plotline of the show?

It gets a lot more mature. So we have a lot more serious issues that the gang goes through and I believe that’s nice because we show different levels of how your circle and the people that are close to you can support you.

I don’t want to ruin it but if you have read the comics, you will know a bit more about how it gets a lot more serious. 

However, it’s still very much Heartstopper. It has it's lovely moments; there’s a lot more group interaction which is always my favorite part of the show because it means everyone’s on set which is always fun! 

And in terms of Tara, she is growing up so she’s having those anxious moments of when she’s not too sure about things. It’s all exciting but she also puts a lot of pressure on herself . This season we do see her go through it a little bit but again she’s got great friends and a loving girlfriend. 

I think it’s still very much Heartstopper. We talk about more mature things this time around but then again it’s also really fun since we have great group days out which I don’t want to ruin but some people might probably already know. 

Ending Note:- Wrapping up this interview, lastly I’d love to ask what’s next for you, Corinna? I know you’re also said to be a stunts double in the upcoming highly-anticipated Snow White production, so what can you tell us about that and anything else apart from Heartstopper you’re currently working on?

Well, yes! I did work on that. That was a little while ago, actually. I don’t think you’ll see me much. I was doubling the amazing Dujonna Gift who is a triple threat. She’s amazing. 

The director on that was hiring performers who could do it all and he did, which was great to see. It was so fun to be on set. 

Although I don’t think you will see me on camera but I’m really excited for the project since Rachel (Zegler) was lovely and who doesn’t love Snow White and Disney? I love all things Disney, so anything Disney, I’m like, 'Yes!’ So, I’m really excited to watch that. 

In terms of projects for me, I don’t know. Who knows what’s coming up? I’m still doing workshops, acting, and auditions. And I just have a feeling that when something’s right, it will come and it won’t pass me. So watch this space because nothing’s confirmed but everything is possible. ...

Watch our video interview with our cover star Corinna Brown talking all things HEARTSTOPPER.

Corinna Brown can be witnessed embodying the role of Tara Jones in Netflix's Heartstopper; Season 3 streaming soon on October 3rd.