Kit Connor Surprises Fans With New Beard and Star-Studded Night Out
Kit Connor is showing fans a very different side of himself. The 21-year-old actor, best known for playing Nick Nelson in Netflix’s Heartstopper, surprised everyone with a new photo that revealed a full, bushy beard and a noticeably bigger physique.
The image was shared on social media by Scott Hoffman of Scissor Sisters, also known as Babydaddy, and featured Connor at a dinner in London with stars like Elton John and David Furnish, Andrew Scott, Russell Tovey, and Kadiff Kirwan.
Fans quickly noticed just how different he looked from the clean-cut teen heartthrob they grew up loving. One comment summed it up perfectly: “KIT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”. Others joked that it took them a while to even spot him among the famous faces.
The transformation isn’t just for fun. Connor has been diving into more adult, challenging projects. He recently starred in the A24 war drama Warfare, directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, which opened in theaters on April 11, 2025. Connor and his co-stars, including Charles Melton and Will Poulter, went through intense physical training to convincingly play Iraq War veterans.
Looking ahead, Kit has a big year. He’s set to star in the mystery-horror movie One of Us, which will premiere at the Manchester Film Festival in March. In the film, he plays a character named Youngest, who faces a terrifying scenario as family members start dying during a funeral.
Sienna Guillory and Charlotte Hope also star in the project, signaling a darker, more mature turn in Connor’s career. Theater fans have also gotten a taste of his range. Kit recently made his Broadway debut in a modern adaptation of Romeo + Juliet, starring alongside Rachel Zegler.
The show, directed by Sam Gold, wrapped its limited run on February 16, 2025, and Connor earned praise for his performance, winning Broadway.com Audience Awards for Favorite Leading Actor in a Play and Favorite Breakthrough Performance.
Connor is also returning to the role that made him famous. Heartstopper Forever, the feature-length conclusion to the Heartstopper series, will explore Nick and Charlie’s lives as they move on to university and handle a long-distance relationship. Connor also executive-produced the film.
Beyond Heartstopper, Connor is expanding his film repertoire with projects like the medieval zombie horror movie Rapture and the drama A Long Winter, directed by Andrew Haigh, known for All of Us Strangers.
From teen rom-coms to Broadway, war dramas, and horror films, Kit Connor has proven he can handle a wide variety of roles. “It’s exciting to explore characters that challenge me in new ways,” Connor told fans in a recent interview, hinting that his rugged new look is more than just a style choice.
Do you think Kit Connor’s new rugged appearance marks the end of his teen heartthrob era as he fully steps into adult roles? Share your thoughts in the comments.
