The sudden fame from starring in a hit TV show can bring many surreal moments, but for Connor Storrie, one recent surprise topped them all. The star of HBO Max’s popular series Heated Rivalry was left completely speechless during a podcast interview when he received a surprise question from one of his acting heroes, Andrew Scott.
The moment happened on the Shut Up Evan podcast. Host Evan Ross Katz introduced a pre-recorded message from the acclaimed actor. Storrie’s immediate, unfiltered reaction was one of total shock, capturing a genuine fan moment as his rapid rise to fame intersected with his personal admiration for Scott’s work.
During the interview, host Evan Ross Katz set up the surprise with little warning. He announced, “I want to bring in the fantastically talented Andrew Scott, who has a question for you”. Storrie was in the middle of discussing his new show when the reveal landed, prompting a stunned “What?!” from the young actor.
Andrew Scott’s voice then came through with a warm and thoughtful message. He said, “Hello, Connor, it’s Andrew here. Congratulations on the show”. Scott continued with his question, showing a keen interest in Storrie’s journey: “All actors have other performers that they admire and look up to from childhood or from the start of their career, and I’m just wondering who that might be for you. And if you have any plans ever to do theatre, or where do you see yourself going after this enormous success”. Scott ended his message by wishing Storrie “Happy holidays”.
The podcast segment shows Storrie sitting with his mouth agape, his eyes darting around the room as he processed hearing from an actor he deeply admires. After a moment of stunned silence, his reaction was pure disbelief. “Oh my God. Wow, that’s crazy. That’s actually really crazy. I love him,” Storrie said.
The surprise was particularly meaningful for Storrie because he already felt a personal, though distant, connection to Andrew Scott. He shared that before his Heated Rivalry fame, he used to see the actor in everyday life but was too nervous to approach him.
“I actually used to work out at the Equinox in West Hollywood, California. I used to see him all the time, [but] never got up the courage to say hi,” Storrie explained on the podcast.
This context made the direct message from Scott even more overwhelming for Storrie. He repeatedly expressed that he could not believe Scott knew who he was. “I still cannot believe that happened, that that man knows who I am,” Storrie said. “That’s crazy. That does not make sense to me at all”.
After collecting himself, Connor Storrie answered Andrew Scott’s question about the performers he looks up to. His inspirations span different eras and styles of acting.
He pointed to classic Hollywood and silent film star Buster Keaton as an early and significant influence. “I was always into the Buster Keaton sort of thing. I was super old school, the kind of like vaudevillian thing,” Storrie said. He also mentioned admiring Jack Nicholson while growing up, joking that they share a similar “eyebrow thing”.
For contemporary actors, Storrie named Cate Blanchett as someone he still admires greatly. He also highlighted Sophie Wilde, an Australian actress known for her role in Talk to Me, as a performer he is currently watching closely.
The reason Andrew Scott was calling to congratulate Connor Storrie is the explosive success of their show, Heated Rivalry. The series has turned Storrie and his co-star Hudson Williams from relative unknowns into breakout stars almost overnight.
The show is a Canadian sports drama streaming on HBO Max and Crave. It follows the secret romantic relationship between two rival professional hockey players, Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), over eight years. Based on the 2019 romance novel by Rachel Reid, the series is noted for its explicit intimacy scenes and its focus on a gay relationship in the world of professional sports.
Its popularity has been rapid and widespread. Shortly after its two-episode premiere on November 28, Heated Rivalry soared into the top 10 TV shows list on HBO Max. It has generated massive discussion on social media, with fans sharing edits and reactions. The attention has been a new experience for the cast. Storrie has admitted to getting emotional over the sudden fame and the specific ways fans have reacted to his performance.
He addressed one particular fan reaction on the podcast, referencing comments that have dubbed him “America’s ass” following a memorable scene in the show. “The butt thing is interesting. I thought everyone would talk generally about the sex, but I didn’t think people would take pictures of my butt and GIF-ify it,” Storrie said with a laugh.
For fans worried about the story ending too soon, there is good news. The show’s success has already led to an early renewal for a second season.
The announcement came from series creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady. They said, “Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love”.
The first season of Heated Rivalry is a six-episode series. The finale, titled “The Cottage,” is scheduled to stream on December 26. The second season is expected to adapt the plot of Reid’s 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game, which continues the story of Shane and Ilya.
Author Rachel Reid has also hinted that she has more story ideas for the characters. “I have story ideas for them that I’ve been working on,” Reid said in an interview. “They never leave my head… You’ll see something for sure”.
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