William Gao

William Gao (Chinese: 高鑫; pinyin: Gāo Xīn; born 2002 or 2003) is an English actor and musician. He is known for his debut role as Tao Xu in the Netflix series Heartstopper (2022–present), for which he was nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance.[1]

William Gao
高鑫
Born2002 or 2003 (age 20–21)
NationalityEnglish
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active2016–present
Musical career
Instruments
  • Piano
  • keyboard
  • vocals
  • violin
Member ofWasia Project
Chinese name
Chinese高鑫

Gao and his younger sister Olivia Hardy formed a music duo called Wasia Project in 2019.[2][3]

Early life

Gao was born in 2002 or 2003, and he is from South Croydon.[4][5] He is the son of an English father and a Chinese mother who moved to England in her 20s.[6] He attended the Trinity School,[7] where he completed A Levels in Chinese, music and drama in 2022. He took up classical piano at the age of 11[8] and was a member of Trinity Boys Choir.[9][10] He joined the National Youth Theatre in May 2019.[11]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2022–present Heartstopper Tao Xu Main role

Theatre
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2016 Shakespeare at 400 Puck Royal Festival Hall [12]
A Midsummer Night's Dream Cobweb Glyndebourne
2022 The Trials Xander Donmar Warehouse [13]

Accolades
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Children's and Family Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Supporting Performance Heartstopper Nominated [14]
Gay Times Honours 2022 On Screen Trailblazer Heartstopper Won [15]

References
  1. Schneider, Michael (November 2022). "Netflix Leads First-Ever Children's & Family Emmy Nominations Tally". Variety. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. "The Wasia Project". Hotvox. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. Bhutani, Pankhuri (1 June 2022). "William Gao". Revamp. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. "Rising Stars: William Gao". The Media Eye. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. O'Connor, Tara (22 June 2021). "Netflix drama Heartstopper to feature Croydon teenager". My London. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. Palmer, Hayley (7 May 2022). "Mixed Asian Media–William Gao on Heartstopper, Fusion Music, and Newfound Fame". Mixed Asian Media. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. "Trinity sixth-former lands role in Netflix's latest teen series". Inside Croydon. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  8. Carpio, Aurora Rose Dawn (11 June 2022). "Artist Spotlight: Netflix Heartstopper actor Will Gao and sister Olivia Hardy on their band Wasia Project". EnVi. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. "Trinity Boys Choir enjoy busy festive season". Trinity. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  10. "Trinity Steinway Scholar Announced". Trinity. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  11. "Sixth Form student performs on live session with National Youth Theatre members". Trinity. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  12. Miraglia, Vanessa (22 April 2022). "Will Gao" (PDF). Viewties. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  13. Millward, Tom (29 June 2022). "Heartstopper's Joe Locke and William Gao among the cast of The Trials at Donmar Warehouse". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  14. Matt Webb, Mitovich (1 November 2022). "Emmys: Mysterious Benedict Society, Sneakerella, Heartstopper, Sweet Tooth Lead Children's & Family Nominees". TVLine. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  15. Clark, Conor (25 November 2022). "GAY TIMES HONOURS 2022: Here are all your winners". Gay Times. Retrieved 25 November 2022.


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