Connor Storrie is experiencing a career moment, and he’s taking it all in stride.
The 26-year-old actor is currently in the spotlight thanks to his breakout role in Heated Rivalry, and in a new cover story for Vogue Adria, he’s reflecting on everything from sudden fame to the unexpected cultural response surrounding the show.
One topic that continues to come up among fans is the undeniable chemistry between Storrie and his co-star Hudson Williams, something viewers have consistently praised.
When asked about the theory that romance has become “cool again” in pop culture, Storrie said he finds the idea surprisingly accurate.
“I really like that theory. And I think it’s true. For as long as I’ve been aware of popular culture, longing, devotion, love—the whole package—felt deeply uncool. It didn’t matter. On the other hand, it’s hard for me to explain why Heated Rivalry resonated the way it did, because I see it from the inside. What I find important might not be what audiences see. But one theme always comes up: the chemistry between Hudson and me. We genuinely love and understand each other, and I think that shows.”
The actor also spoke about what drew him to the project in the first place.
“There was so much enthusiasm poured into this project. That energy radiates outward. Also, individually, the characters are compelling. That’s why I fell in love with Ilya. When Jacob [Tierney] sent me the full script, I gave myself completely to it. I cried, I laughed, I cared about every dynamic. He goes through so much—with his mother, his father dementia, his awful brother. He carries the immigrant experience. The accent that sets him apart. All of that makes him fascinating. People fell in love with the characters, and Hudson and I brought a love story with a happy ending. So yes, I like that theory. It feels like we’re back on the page where love is cool again. People want to connect.”
The series is based on the novel by Rachel Reid and has become especially meaningful for LGBTQ+ audiences — something Storrie says he hears about regularly from fans.
“Rachel Reid wrote this story in a very specific genre, consciously and intentionally. She’s said herself she wanted to address homophobia in hockey and spark conversation. And Jacob was very vocal about wanting to create a gay love story that wasn’t tragic. Not about people being torn apart, about lives destroyed without a happy ending. It’s important to return to Rachel’s intention and how Jacob translated it to screen. They’re brilliant. And it makes me so happy that it resonated. I receive so many messages, especially from queer people, who feel seen through Ilya. Who feel validated as bisexual. Who genuinely connect to that narrative. This could have remained just a sweet love story with a twist. But it’s incredibly moving how deeply it echoed, how many people globally saw themselves in it.”
Storrie also reflected on how he approaches success — and failure — in an industry that can be unpredictable.
“I’ve had enough minor disappointments that I’ve become disillusioned with expectations and chasing specific outcomes. You can’t put that much weight on anything. Let’s say I do a movie and it’s not good and people don’t like it. That hurts, of course. But if I have faith in my vision, in my creativity, and there are people out there who see me as an artist, then it’s like—okay, we did that, let’s move on. Some of the most brilliant actors have been part of things that weren’t great. Projects can take a sour turn. We never know. And that’s okay. It can be scary. But that’s not proof of quality. Even with Heated Rivalry, I was fully aware it could have been cringe. It could have gone wrong. That doesn’t mean someone did bad work. Reception is partly out of your hands. Some great films fail commercially and become classics 25 years later. I try to remind myself of that constantly. All you can do is your best, go for it. Time keeps moving. So just go big and don’t get too lost in it.”
As for the whirlwind attention he’s received recently, Storrie admits he’s still catching up emotionally.
“It feels great. But honestly, I haven’t even had enough time to think about any of it. I always have a little emotional delay. When something happens, it takes me weeks to process and connect with it. And in this case, maybe that’s not a bad thing. If I had sat down and really thought about everything, I have a feeling it would have become overwhelming.”
For now, he’s choosing to keep moving forward — and letting the moment unfold naturally.
