For fans of the After film series, Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s portrayal of the emotionally complex Hardin Scott has become nothing short of iconic. Through four films, viewers have watched his character evolve from a brooding bad boy into a deeply vulnerable man grappling with love, trauma, and redemption. But in After Ever Happy, the final chapter in the franchise (excluding the prequel), Hero says one particular scene pushed him beyond his emotional limits — and became the most demanding moment of his acting career.
In an exclusive interview, the 26-year-old British actor opened up about that powerful scene, the emotional toll it took, and why he’ll always carry a part of Hardin with him — long after the credits rolled.
“It Was Hardin Stripped Down”
For Hero, the most difficult scene in After Ever Happy wasn’t one of the steamy, romantic sequences that made the franchise famous. It was a quieter, more emotionally raw moment: a breakdown scene that required him to dive deep into Hardin’s inner torment.
“It was the scene where Hardin is completely broken,” Hero explains. “He finds himself alone, questioning everything. It’s not loud or dramatic — it’s very still. But emotionally, it was everything. That was the hardest part.”
In the scene, Hardin comes to terms with a devastating truth about his past, and the weight of guilt, regret, and longing finally crashes down on him. There are no grand gestures or fiery outbursts — just a man facing the wreckage of his choices.
“I remember reading it in the script and thinking, ‘This is going to be the moment that defines him,’” Hero says. “It’s not about what he says. It’s about what he doesn’t say. It’s about what he’s trying not to feel — and then it all just explodes.”
A Grueling Day on Set
Filming that scene was no easy feat. It required multiple takes, each demanding a deep emotional reset. Hero recalls the silence on set, the focused energy, and the immense pressure he put on himself to get it right.
“It was emotionally exhausting,” he admits. “I had to be completely vulnerable. And the crazy thing is — you don’t just feel it while you’re acting. You carry it home with you. That weight doesn’t just disappear when the director yells ‘cut.’”
Director Castille Landon, who helmed both After We Fell and After Ever Happy, praised Hero’s performance in the scene as “gut-wrenching” and “unfiltered.” She reportedly cleared the set of unnecessary crew during those takes to give Hero the space and privacy he needed.
“You could hear a pin drop,” Hero recalls. “It was like everyone was holding their breath. I think they knew how much that moment meant, not just for the story, but for me as an actor.”
More Than Just a Romance
The After franchise has often been labeled a teen romance saga, but Hero insists there’s much more beneath the surface — especially in After Ever Happy.
“People see the love story between Hardin and Tessa and think it’s all passion and drama,” he says. “But what I love about this final chapter is how it digs into who they are as individuals. It’s about growth, healing, self-destruction, forgiveness — and all the messy stuff that comes with it.”
In many ways, Hero’s toughest scene reflects that thematic shift. It’s not about two people falling in love; it’s about one person learning how to live with himself.
“Hardin is someone who has always run from his pain. In that moment, he finally stops running. That’s what made it so raw — and so rewarding.”
How Hero Prepared for the Scene
To prepare for the emotionally taxing sequence, Hero leaned on his own experiences with vulnerability and solitude. Though he admits he’s “not nearly as tortured” as Hardin, he connected with the character’s struggle for self-acceptance.
“I think everyone has moments where they feel lost or broken,” he reflects. “You think you’re beyond fixing. That’s where Hardin is in that scene. And the only way I could do it justice was to go there myself.”
He also credits his castmates — particularly Josephine Langford (Tessa) — for helping him build a safe space to explore that kind of intensity on set.
“Jo’s support throughout the series has been amazing. We’ve grown up together in a sense. There’s a lot of trust there. Even though she wasn’t in that scene, her presence throughout the journey made it easier to reach that emotional place.”
A Bittersweet Goodbye
With After Ever Happy marking the end of Hardin and Tessa’s journey (at least for now), Hero says filming the movie felt like closing a chapter — one he’ll never forget.
“There was this weird mix of exhaustion and pride,” he says. “We’d been through so much — four films, multiple countries, so many changes. Saying goodbye to Hardin was emotional. But I also felt like we did him justice.”
Hero won’t be returning in the After prequel, which focuses on Hardin’s earlier years and stars a younger actor. But he’s excited to watch the story continue from a distance.
“I’ll always be protective of Hardin,” he says, smiling. “It’s like handing off your baby to someone else. But I know they’ll take good care of him.”
