The After film series has captured millions of hearts worldwide, and at its emotional core is Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who portrays the brooding and complex Hardin Scott. Known for his deeply intense performance and chemistry with co-star Josephine Langford (Tessa), Tiffin has taken fans on a rollercoaster of emotions through every installment. But in a recent interview, the actor revealed that one scene in After Ever Happy stood out as the most emotionally “taxing” of all — a moment that challenged him like never before.
“It was an enjoyable challenge,” Hero shared, describing the raw intensity required for the scene. “It pushed me to places I hadn’t really been as an actor before. I had to be fully present, completely open, and let the vulnerability come through naturally.” While the After series is filled with heated arguments, passionate reconciliations, and emotional breakdowns, the particular scene Hero is referring to is one that many fans instantly recognize: the emotional confrontation between Hardin and Tessa when long-buried truths finally surface. In that moment, Hardin is stripped of his defenses, and for the first time, we see a version of him that’s not angry or reactive, but broken — devastated by the weight of his own mistakes.
“It’s always a fine balance,” Tiffin explained. “You want the audience to feel the depth of the character’s pain, but you also want to stay honest to who he is. Hardin is someone who doesn’t open up easily, so when he finally does, it has to hit hard.” Filming the scene reportedly took several days and required Hero to tap into a darker, more vulnerable side of himself. “You don’t just turn it on and off. That kind of emotional work lingers. You carry it with you, even after the director calls ‘cut.’”
What made the process even more demanding, Hero noted, was the deep emotional investment both he and Langford brought to the moment. “Jo [Josephine] was incredible,” he said. “Having a scene partner who’s so present, who meets you at that level of intensity — it makes all the difference. We were both exhausted at the end of that day, but it felt like we’d really done something special.”
For fans of the After franchise, the scene is a pivotal one. It marks a turning point in the relationship between Hardin and Tessa — a moment of emotional reckoning that feels both inevitable and heartbreaking. It’s not just about the tears or shouting; it’s about what’s left unsaid, the looks exchanged, the pain simmering just beneath the surface. And Hero delivers it all with stunning restraint and honesty.
The scene’s power lies not only in the script but in the performances, and it’s a testament to Tiffin’s growth as an actor. Having started the series as a relatively unknown face, he has matured alongside his character, bringing greater nuance and emotional depth to each performance. Fans have watched Hardin evolve — from the toxic, impulsive young man in After to a more self-aware, emotionally complex figure in After Ever Happy — and much of that credit goes to Hero’s careful, deliberate portrayal.
