Is William Gao Gay? The Actor's Dating Life and Sexuality Is a Mystery

William Gao only recently broke into the TV and film industry with a leading role in the hit Netflix series "Heartstopper." He was among the main romantic leads on the award-winning show, leaving fans curious about his love life off-screen.

In a July 2023 interview, William Gao opened up about his meteoric rise to stardom, how overwhelming it's been, his other creative outlets, and how he plans to expand his career in film and TV to create more expansive and well-rounded Asian narratives.

The young actor received his first leading role in 2022 as Tao Xu, "Heartstopper," which recently debuted its second season on Netflix. The show thrust Gao into the spotlight, as enamored and perhaps simply curious audiences grew curious about his personal life, particularly his love life.

William Gao's Girlfriend: The Actor's Relationship Status Is Currently Unknown

At the moment, it remains unknown if Gao is romantically involved with anyone. The same can be said about his sexuality, as he has not spoken publicly about those aspects of his life and identity.

They likely came into question due to starring in a show that focused on queer adolescent experiences. Gao himself is a romantic lead dating an openly transgender young woman. His girlfriend on "Heartstopper" is Elle, played by openly transgender actress Yasmin Finney.

Although he has a somewhat active presence on social media, his content is primarily work-related — snippets from photoshoots, updates on upcoming projects, and his other artistic pursuits.

William Gao on Overwhelming "Heartstopper" Success

The first two seasons of "Heartstopper" focus on young LGBTQ adolescents — also played by Corinna Brown, Kit Connor, Sebastian Croft, and Joe Locke — embracing their identities and developing positive relationships.

Although the struggles of queer teens are also depicted, they aren't central to the characters' experiences. As season two goes further into how they navigate their lives and relationships, the third season is expected to delve into more complex matters; grief, friendship breakups, and more.

"Season one was beautiful, but life comes with a mix of joy and deep tragedy, and it's important to show that. It's not all fluffy-duffy," Gao said. He shared a similar sentiment about his sudden worldwide fame.

Although he was excited and anticipated the exposure, Gao didn't expect it to be as overwhelming as it had been. "The impact was slightly negative. I had a bit of a moment in September," he confessed.

Fortunately, he had a supportive cast, to which he confided. They regularly checked up on him and got him through his momentary stumble. The pressure of being in the spotlight remains present, and while Gao does acknowledge it, he also tries not to take it "too seriously."

William Gao's Bromance with Co-star Kit Connor

In May 2022, Connor duetted a TikTok video that showed pictures of him with the caption, "Everyone: Has a crush on Kit Connor." Alongside that portion of the clip, the young star's facial expression was a playful mix of indifference and disapproval.

However, when the clip switched to a slideshow of Gao's photos, Connor smiled and nodded in approval. The two co-stars are known for often speaking fondly of one another, with Gao once stating, "We've got big bromance game" and describing Connor as "a very good friend."