Rule number one if you ever see actor Darren Criss in public and you’re so totally Gleeked out that you just have to go up and say something: Don’t be shy. “I get it, because I’m a fan too!” says the 24-year-old, who plays openly gay high schooler—and boyfriend to Kurt (Chris Colfer)—Blaine Anderson on the hit show Glee. “God knows how many people I meet now where I just get so nervous.” (The celeb he freaked out about most recently? Waris Ahluwalia, who stars in many of Wes Anderson’s movies.)

Darren’s approachability and fanboy status are just a few of his endearing qualities. There’s also [humility]—“I feel so underqualified to be doing what I’m doing,” he says. “To be anything less than gracious is an insult to the [fans].