Role Call: Meet The Next Generation Of Heartbreak High

How does HBH compare to when you were in high school?
“HBH is way edgier and cooler than my high school experience. I was a massive nerd; all I did was study in my room and I didn’t have much of a social life!”

“Trying to capture an Aussie high school and presenting a really authentic Australian experience was important for us. Some people will take issue with the lack of uniforms but I think the fashion really drives a lot of the characters. It gives you a better insight into who these people are and uniforms, in a way, can strip that of us when we’re in school, so I really like that these amazing, bombastic characters get to express themselves through fashion.”

Which character do you relate to most?
“I relate to Amerie a lot because she’s so cringe but so authentic. There’s something to be said about being a little bit cringe and being a little bit embarrassing – it’s such a relatable thing that everyone feels. I love that Amerie can be openly like that and I think a lot of us just feel like that on the inside. But if I could steal anyone else’s style, I love Harper’s wardrobe!”

Who is the inspiration behind your character?
“I’m autistic too so playing an autistic teenager felt like I wasn’t having to act, I just had to channel 16-year-old me. It was like getting to relive my high school experience but in a positive way. I was involved in such a big part of the writing process and creation process – Quinni was very much a co-creation which was so cool and such a rare, unique experience.”

The HBH styling – hate it or rate it IRL?
“I love it! Quinni is edgier than I am – she wears chokers while I would wear flower crowns – but we’re still very similar, we both have very eccentric tastes in fashion. It's not what’s trending, it’s what feels good on our bodies.”

Who is the inspiration behind your character?
“Ca$h came from a lot of sources – I talked to people that I knew growing up, people that I had met before, but I don’t think I could talk about getting into this character without mentioning Spanian; I watched a lot of his Youtube videos, the hood talks, listened to his podcast, then after listening to his podcast, I went and found out stuff about his guests and the people that he’s talking to.”

Which character do you relate to most from HBH?
“I definitely relate to Ca$h and his feelings of angst and isolation from his peers, his confusion about his path in life and what's going on…and I probably would steal Ca$h’s wardrobe for sure – I’m a huge Nike TN lover now!”

How would you describe Harper?
“She is overcome with emotion, she’s got an incredible strength to her but also an incredible vulnerability that she doesn't like other people to see. She’s got a lot of depth.”

Who is the inspiration behind your character?
“I feel like Harper came from the depths of my own heartbreak in my own life in various different ways and I think she’s a really hyper focused version of my own painful moments, but she’s also got a lot of the strength that I wish I had when I was going through those things.”

How would you describe Ant?
“Ant’s like a nice guy, kind of quirky, a bit of a stoner, a bit of a chiller, just relaxed. There’s all this drama happening and he’s just chilling – he’s friends with everyone. He’s open to anything and goes with the flow. He’s how we all should be.”

How does HBH compare to when you were in high school?
“Hartley High definitely feels like an Australian high school and there are some similarities, but for me, I was a huge nerd in high school. I don't know what happened to all my brain cells! I was pre-med, a big physics and chemistry nerd, I was Head Boy as well, so I was the complete opposite to anyone at Hartley High, but I feel like it was high school if I was to do it now – what I wish I was like in high school if I didn't have so much stress.”