Viewers know Sebastian Croft from Heartstopper and now Celebrity Traitors, but the actor has revealed the painful school experience behind his public confidence. Speaking about being outed as gay as a teenager, he described years of bullying and isolation, while also explaining how acting and queer community helped him feel accepted.

Sebastian Croft recalls a lonely time at school

Sebastian Croft has spoken candidly about being outed over his sexuality during his school years, describing the period as deeply isolating. The actor said he was bullied and ostracised after a boy he had been secretly seeing revealed that he was gay.

According to Attitude, Croft has chosen not to place all the blame on that boy, recognising that he was also dealing with pressure and homophobic abuse. That nuance doesn't make the experience less painful, but it shows how complicated these situations can be for young people trying to understand themselves. [3]

Acting gave him a place to breathe

Croft has said the contrast between school and his acting life was stark. Away from the classroom, he could work with people who shared his interests and feel much more comfortable in his own skin.

Net FM reported that he described returning to school after acting as a difficult switch between two entirely different worlds. One offered creativity and belonging; the other left him feeling targeted and alone. It's a reminder of how important safe spaces can be for teenagers, especially when school doesn't provide one. [4]

His early career included a West End appearance in Oliver! and a role as a young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Capital FM also noted his later television work, which helped establish him as a familiar face before his best-known role arrived. [5]

Heartstopper helped rewrite the experience

Croft played Ben Hope in Netflix's Heartstopper, the drama centred on friendship, romance and self-discovery among LGBTQ+ teenagers. Netflix's cast guide places him among the show's wider ensemble, alongside stars including Kit Connor and Joe Locke. [7]

For Croft, the series offered something unusually personal. He said it allowed him to revisit the sort of school years he might have wished for, but this time surrounded by supportive colleagues and a production celebrating queer identity. That emotional connection helps explain why his role resonated, even when Ben himself was far from an easy character to like. [6]

From Heartstopper to Celebrity Traitors

Croft is now appearing on the BBC's Celebrity Traitors, swapping scripted teenage drama for suspicion, alliances and the occasional raised eyebrow across the round table. The move also reflects his changing attitude towards his career.

Rather than trying to control a carefully polished image, he has said he now wants to follow projects that genuinely interest him. The PinkNews coverage highlighted this broader shift in how he approaches work and public life. [2]

That makes his reality television appearance feel less like a detour and more like a natural next step. After years of being viewed through one particularly recognisable role, Croft seems ready to show audiences a little more of his personality, even if the castle's faithful and traitors aren't always ready for it. [2]

Why his story matters beyond television

Croft has publicly identified as queer and, in 2023, helped launch Queer Was Always Here with fellow actor Connor Jessup. The initiative focuses on queer lives, art and history, while supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees and displaced people through its partnership with Choose Love. [4]

His story also reflects a wider change in the entertainment industry. Young queer actors are increasingly able to speak about identity on their own terms, but that progress doesn't erase the bullying and exclusion many still experience at school.

For viewers, Croft's openness adds another layer to his television work. The polished performances and quick humour sit alongside a past that was much harder to navigate, which makes his current confidence feel earned rather than effortless. [3]

It's a powerful reminder that finding the right people can change the way a difficult chapter feels.

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