If you have been anywhere near X or TikTok lately, you have definitely seen the spicy, soapy drama that is HBO Max’s ‘Heated Rivalry.’ The show has become an overnight sensation since dropping over Thanksgiving weekend, and star Connor Storrie is finally reacting to his newfound status as the internet’s favorite hockey heartthrob.
The -year-old actor, who plays Russian superstar Ilya Rozanov, recently sat down for a candid Zoom chat to discuss the show’s massive success and that shocking Season renewal. And while fans are busy making stickers and wallpapers of his best on-screen moments, Storrie admits he was just trying to keep his head above water when he landed the gig.
The Audition That Changed Everything
In a move that proved he understood the assignment, Storrie revealed he went rogue during his initial self-tape. “I was like, ‘If we’re doing a show that heavily involves sex… you all have to see what these people look like naked,'” he laughed. He decided to film the entire audition shirtless, a bold choice that clearly paid off.
At the time, Storrie was living in Los Angeles and struggling to keep his job at a local grill. In fact, he received his “final warning” from his boss just minutes before his agent called with the life-changing news. “I worked a few more shifts and then was like, ‘See you!'” he joked about his swift exit from the restaurant world.
Dealing With Viral Fame and ‘Butt’ Memes
The transition from waiter to viral sensation has been a whirlwind. Storrie admitted he was “out of the loop” for two months while directing his own indie feature shot on an iPhone, only to return to a mountain of social media mentions.
“I didn’t even know that my butt was a topic of conversation until I had so many random people sending me screenshots of my ass on Twitter,” Storrie shared. While the sheer volume of GIFs and tweets is overwhelming, he is staying grounded. “I can’t get lost in the comments… my MO is to just stay focused on my creativity.”
The Secret to Those Steamy Scenes
Of course, everyone wants to know about the chemistry between Storrie and his co-star Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander). While the show utilizes intimacy coordinators and strict boundaries, Storrie revealed that some of the most romantic touches were actually unscripted.
“The things that aren’t fully scripted are some of our touches, some of our body kisses and stuff,” he explained. Because he and Williams established a deep trust early on, they felt comfortable “organically feeding into the moment.” The two have even become best friends off-screen, with Williams recently staying at Storrie’s place for a week.
Looking Ahead to Season
With a second season officially confirmed, the pressure is on to live up to the hype. For Storrie, the path forward is simple: honor the source material. “The only way to make this make sense is to stick to the books and also honor the fandom,” he said, referencing Rachel Reid’s bestselling novels.
He’s also bracing for the cultural impact of the show, getting emotional when discussing how fans – including trans men and bisexual women – have told him that seeing this representation makes their existence “a little less painful.”
And for those wondering about his next career move? While Hudson Williams is eyeing Nightwing, Storrie wants to go dark. “I want to be a supervillain… give me something weird,” he said, citing Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher as inspiration.
Are you team Ilya or team Shane? Let us know your favorite ‘Heated Rivalry’ moment in the comments!
