Darragh Hand: The Rising Star You Need to Know in 2026

2026-07-18 · How Do Everything

If the name Darragh Hand has been lighting up your search bar this week, the reason is simple: the 27-year-old British-Irish actor is everywhere at once. A Netflix murder-mystery that critics are calling one of the year's best, a landmark production at the National Theatre, and now the premiere of the feature-length Heartstopper finale — all converging in the same dazzling summer. For a performer who only graduated from drama school in 2021, the speed of his ascent is remarkable.

Who Is Darragh Hand?

Born on 25 August 1998 in Croydon, London, Darragh Hand is of Irish and Jamaican heritage. He trained at the London College of Music, earning a Bachelor of Arts in acting in 2021. His screen career began with early supporting roles in the British crime dramas Grace and Silent Witness, but it was the stage — not the screen — that first proved his depth as a performer.

Hand's breakthrough in theatre came swiftly after graduation. His most acclaimed early role was in Ryan Calais Cameron's For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, which premiered at the New Diorama Theatre in October 2021, later transferred to the Royal Court and then the West End. His performance earned him a shared nomination at the 2023 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Supporting Actor — a remarkable honour for someone so early in their career.

He then appeared in James Graham's Dear England at the National Theatre, playing footballer Marcus Rashford in a fictionalised account of the England football team under manager Gareth Southgate. The production later transferred to the West End's Prince Edward Theatre, further cementing Hand's reputation as a formidable stage presence. His other theatre credits include an opera production of L'amant Anonyme at Glyndebourne, Bangers for Cardboard Citizens at Soho Theatre, and The Land of Lost Content at the Edinburgh and London Pleasance.

Heartstopper: The Role That Made Him a Household Name

In 2024, Hand joined the global phenomenon that is Netflix's Heartstopper, taking on the role of Michael Holden in Season 3 — a character drawn from Alice Oseman's first novel, Solitaire. Oseman described Michael as "a quirky, eccentric optimist with a sunshine disposition," and finding the right actor to channel that energy was reportedly no easy task. Hand won the part and was immediately embraced by the show's intensely loyal fanbase, who welcomed him despite the fact that his appearance differs from the character's depiction in the source comics.

Now, that chapter is drawing to a close — and in spectacular fashion. On 14 July 2026, Hand joined the full Heartstopper cast on the red carpet in London for the premiere of Heartstopper Forever, the feature-length finale film that Netflix greenlit instead of a fourth season. The film arrived on Netflix on 17 July 2026, giving fans one last chance to say goodbye to Nick, Charlie, and the rest of the beloved group — including Michael Holden. Hand has spoken warmly about reprising the role, describing it as deeply fulfilling to return to a world that "reshaped the landscape for queer storytelling on mainstream television."

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: His Breakout Screen Role

While Heartstopper introduced Hand to a global TV audience, it is his role in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast that has critics and audiences calling him a genuine breakout star. The eight-part Netflix comedy thriller, created by Lisa McGee — the mind behind the BBC's beloved Derry Girls — premiered on 12 February 2026 and quickly became one of the streaming platform's most talked-about new shows of the year.

The series follows three lifelong friends from Belfast who travel to County Donegal after the suspicious death of their estranged fourth schoolmate, only to find themselves pulled into a darkly comic, twisting mystery. Hand plays Liam, a soft-spoken local Garda officer who becomes the central romantic interest, developing a charged connection with TV writer Saoirse, played by Roísín Gallagher. Described by Country and Town House as the "scene-stealer to know," Hand wears a convincing Irish accent in what many are calling his definitive screen performance to date. For the role, he also got to tap into his own Irish heritage while filming on location in the north of Ireland.

The show has been a critical hit. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95% approval rating from critics, while Metacritic gave it a score of 79 out of 100, indicating "generally favourable" reviews. The Hollywood Reporter described it as "effective as both comedy and whodunit," and NPR called it "vastly entertaining and flagrantly Irish." In the words of the Rotten Tomatoes critics' consensus, the show is "another triumphantly funny and proudly Irish series from creator Lisa McGee."

Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre

Sandwiched between his two major Netflix projects, Hand also returned to his first love — the stage — in one of the most high-profile theatrical productions of 2026. From March to June 2026, he performed as Chevalier Danceny in Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London's National Theatre, directed by Marianne Elliott. The role of Danceny — a romantic idealist most famously played on screen by Keanu Reeves in the 1988 film — put Hand opposite a stellar cast including Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner.

The production also marked the first time Hand had returned to the National Theatre's Southbank stage since his acclaimed run in Dear England. Rehearsal photos released in March 2026 generated significant buzz, and the show has been captured for a National Theatre Live broadcast, introducing the production to cinema audiences worldwide.

What Makes Darragh Hand Special?

Hand's rapid rise can be attributed to his genuine versatility and a thoughtful approach to his craft. He has spoken in interviews about how he navigated the transition between stage and screen, initially seeing them as very different disciplines before coming to regard them as, in his own words, "different flavours of the same sauce." He credits his stage work — particularly the raw vulnerability demanded by For Black Boys — with teaching him the importance of honest, unguarded performance.

Off-set, he is known for his generous personality and his ambition to challenge what he calls "social and racial constraints" that he considers outdated in the industry. He has spoken about being warmly welcomed by the Heartstopper cast and crew, and has described the experience of filming in Ireland for How to Get to Heaven from Belfast — surrounded almost exclusively by Irish actors — as both exhilarating and deeply meaningful given his own heritage.

In 2025, he dedicated himself to a wide range of new skills in preparation for his 2026 push, reportedly picking up Brazilian jiu-jitsu, ballroom dancing, rock climbing, and guitar. That level of commitment hints at an actor who is not simply coasting on his looks and charisma, but one actively building the toolkit of a long-career leading man.

Where to Watch Darragh Hand Right Now

• How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Season 1) — All eight episodes are streaming now on Netflix.
• Heartstopper (Season 3) — Available to stream on Netflix, with all three seasons of the series available on the platform.
• Heartstopper Forever — The feature-length finale film arrived on Netflix on 17 July 2026.
• National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses — The filmed stage production, featuring Hand as Chevalier Danceny, is available through NT Live and in selected cinemas.

With three major projects landing in the same year — and a fanbase that is growing by the day — Darragh Hand is making a very strong case for being one of the most exciting young actors working in British film and television right now. Whether you discovered him through Heartstopper, fell for him in Belfast, or spotted him on the South Bank, 2026 is undeniably the year he stepped out of the wings and into the spotlight.