Charlie Heaton is no stranger to the trials of life's hardships. The 'Stranger Things' star, now aged 31, recently shared rare insights into becoming a father at the tender age of 20, as he co-parents his 11-year-old son Archie with ex-bandmate Akiko Matsuura. "Being a young father means you have to grow up quickly," Charlie explained to Wonderland magazine in an interview published on November 25th. "You must also learn the importance of ethical priorities and take care of someone."
The Industry star noted that becoming a parent is a "big thing" to balance, especially at such a young age. "You want to give them good experiences and lots of love, and the hard part is obviously the distance," he explained. "But that's part of the sacrifice."
Meanwhile, Charlie also reflected on his nearly decade-long romance with 'Stranger Things' co-star Natalia Dyer, as the couple made their official red carpet debut in 2017. "It's been a gift to work with my best friend," he added. "To be able to share the anxiety of not getting a job with your partner—I know what that feels like, and she knows what that feels like."
Indeed, Charlie and Natalia have had no issues continuing their relationship both on and off screen. In fact, it informs their dynamic. "You can be there to talk about it, or when you have a bad day at work, or come away from a scene and you didn't think it worked," he continued. "To be able to both understand each other on that level is fantastic."
Natalia had previously emphasized that working with Charlie amid their relationship was "really fun." "It's an interesting thing to work with someone you go home with," she explained to Refinery29 in 2019. "We're really comfortable with each other, so we can play and feel more free, and we can talk about it beforehand."
