Sebastian Theodore Kemble Croft is a 21-year-old British actor who rose to prominence when he played young Eddard Stark in the sixth season of the HBO series “Game of Thrones”.
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Croft started as a child stage actor. His first West End stage appearance was in 2010 in Sam Mendes’ production of “Oliver!” He has taken part in numerous stage plays after that, such as “Les Misérables”, “Matilda”, and “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole” to name a few.
In 2016, he made his TV debut in the series “Houdini and Doyle” and “Penny Dreadful”. His most notable role, aside from playing the young Eddard Stark in “Game of Thrones”, is playing Ben Hope in the 2022 Netflix series “Heartstopper”. The British actor has made a few films, as well, such as “The Hippopotamus” (2017), “School’s Out Forever” (2021), and “Dampyr” (2022).
Sebastian Croft is, without a doubt, one of the most promising actors of today. But this only means he would be a target for some rumors. And among the various issues that have been thrown at the actor is his sexuality. Well, are these rumors true? Is Sebastian Croft gay?
VOTE: What is Sebastian Croft’s Sexuality?
Dating Rumors
Although the actor had never shared any of his relationships with the public, provided that he had any, he had been romantically linked to his Heartstopper co-actor Joe Locke. The two were very close, often sharing photos together on their socials, more than the rest of the cast.
Two of their photos together fueled the dating rumors even more — one of which, they were seen wearing a matching jacket, and the other one, they were seen hugging each other. This made their followers assume that they were an item.
But sorry to disappoint the fans who ship them but they’re not dating. They’re just really close. In fact, they consider one another as best friends.
On Being an LGBTQ Ally
If you’re a fan of the hit Netflix series “Heartstopper,” you will be familiar with Sebastian Croft’s character, Benjamin “Ben” Hope, a closeted bisexual who is snarky, cunning, manipulative, and violent. Ben is a toxic teenager who does nothing but bully and gaslight Charlie Spring (played by Joe Locke), the series’ main protagonist who is an outed gay. He made it a point to make Charlie’s student life miserable.
But just to be clear, Sebastian is nothing like Ben in real life. The actor even makes it a point to announce to his followers that he’s the president of the “Ben Hope Hate Club.” If there’s anything to Sebastian, it’s being proud to be an LGBTQ ally.
I take both my role as B*n H*pe and my role as President of the B*n H*pe Hate Club equally seriously 🍂 https://t.co/z4g6TpJ1KU
— Sebastian Croft (@SebastianCroft) April 27, 2022
For instance, Sebastian Croft did a collab with an LGBTQ designer for the “Queer Was Always Here” T-shirt campaign.
I remember when my brother told me that there were animals that some were gay. Quite a lot in fact. Completely naturally, without any concept of what it would mean to love the same sex and why that might be different to any other kind of love. I found that incredibly empowering. Often being queer is sold as a choice or watered down to a trend. But it’s not, and exists across nature. We’re also robbed of a lot of gay history, and can easily forget how long we have been here for.”
Croft explained
The proceeds of the campaign would go to Choose Love and Rainbow Railroad — two nonprofit organizations that are working together to provide support to LGBTQ refugees who are in dire need of home and protection.
Sebastian Croft was also seen giving his all out support to the Pride Parade in London last July 2022. The actor, along with Joe Locke and other Heartstopper cast members, were seen having the time of their lives dancing to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
In relation to the “Queer Was Always Here” campaign, Sebastian Croft said:
I wanted to remind people with this T-Shirt, that queer has not just always been here throughout human history, but almost definitely predates us. Homophobia is the newcomer…”
To everyone who bought a ‘queer was always here’ t-shirt THANK YOU. because of you, we have raised 150K for @chooselove and @RainbowRailroad 🥺🦕🏳️🌈💖🏳️⚧️
all of this money will go directly to helping queer refugees, especially those escaping crisis situations. pic.twitter.com/fOFeGyf2m2— Sebastian Croft (@SebastianCroft) August 31, 2022
On Apologizing for Being a Part of a JK Rowling Project
The “Heartstopper” actor was known for being a huge LGBTQ ally. Thus, when it was reported that he signed to voice Harry Potter in the Hogwarts Legacy game, it left a lot of fans disappointed. His fans felt like he had let them down by working with someone the LGBTQ community doesn’t support.
JK Rowling had previously received backlash from the queer community for describing hormones and surgery for transgender people as “a new kind of conversion therapy”. A lot of people found the author’s tweets “condescending” and “transphobic”.
A lot were disappointed in Sebastian Croft upon finding out that he was a part of a JK Rowling project.
NY bestseller author Aiden Thomas, for example, tweeted the announcement with the caption, “cute. this is why we don’t f*cking trust y’all.”
cute. this is why we don’t f*cking trust y’all. pic.twitter.com/OG0Smoj5MB
— Aiden Thomas (@aidenschmaiden) January 13, 2023
Croft was, however, quick to respond to the backlash he received.
I was cast in this project over 3 years ago, back when all Harry Potter was to me, was the magical world I grew up with. This was long before I was aware of JK Rowling’s views. I believe whole heartedly that trans women are women and trans men are men.”
Croft clarified in a tweet
I know far more now than I did 3 years ago, and hope to learn far more in the next 3. I’m really sorry to anyone hurt by this announcement. There is no LGB without the T.”
he continued
Is Sebastian Croft Gay?
Although the actor never really identified his sexuality, he never shied away from showing his full support to the LGBTQ community. But this doesn’t automatically make him a queer. Thus, until the day Sebastian Croft decided to clarify his sexuality, not that he had to, it would be presumptuous to label him as anything.