Miles Heizer has opened up about his own difficult experience coming out, describing it as “nightmare.”

The actor, 31, is currently starring as the closeted Marine recruit Cameron Cope in Netflix’s Boots, which is based on Greg Cope’s memoir, The Pink Marine. The book was written about Cope’s experiences in the Marines in 1979, when being gay in the military was banned.

The series updates this to just before ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ came into effect. That policy prevented gay military service people from being open about their sexuality and gender identity.

In an interview with Variety, Heizer, who came out when he was 19, discussed his experience of disclosing his sexuality to his “super conservative, religious family.” Heizer was raised, along with his sister, by his mum and grandmother in Kentucky.

“I had a very unfortunately classic gay coming-out story. It was a nightmare and everyone was upset, the 13 Reasons Why actor said. “I’m lucky my sister, who’s my best friend, could not have cared less and was very there for me.”

He continued, “My friends around me were super supportive and things have gotten so much better in that regard with my family over the years. But at the time, I definitely had the old Christian upbringing.”

Since debuting on Netflix Boots has proven a hit with audiences. In our own review, we praised the show for being “quietly affecting” with “beautiful” exploration of male relationships in the Marines.

The series leaves the door open for a potential second season, which if commissioned would have to start from scratch having already used all the material from Cope’s memoir.

Former Emmerdale star Max Parker, who plays Sgt. Sullivan, has shared his take on the future of the show while speaking to Radio Times.

“There are so many ways it could go for all of our characters,” he said. “I love that moment at the end where I hand over the walkie talkie to Cameron and let him know that he’s ready now… Just this battle of what’s right and what’s wrong. That moment of handing over the baton for him to carry on…”

Heizer agreed that there are “so many different directions” the show could go in if it were renewed for season two, including a romance for Cameron. “It would be interesting to see him navigating that, especially in this military world,” he said.

All episodes of Boots are streaming now on Netflix.