William Gao

William Gao (also credited as William Gao Hardy; Chinese name Gāo Xīn) is an English screen actor and musician, born on February 20, 2003, in London, England. Emerging as a fresh voice in contemporary TV, he has quickly become a recognizable talent for audiences drawn to character-driven, youth-focused storytelling.

Gao is best known for playing Tao Xu in Netflix’s Heartstopper (2022–present), a breakout role that helped establish him internationally. His performance earned awards attention, including a nomination at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Performance, marking him as one of the series’ standout supporting actors.

Alongside acting, Gao is also active in music. In 2019, he and his younger sister Olivia Hardy formed the duo Wasia Project, blending his on-screen presence with a parallel creative path as a musician.

Beyond Heartstopper, his credits span projects such as Sunrise, Crescendo, Isotope, Dead Cat Film, Breakwater, and appearances like Joe Lycett's Big Pride Party, reflecting a growing and varied screen portfolio.