Connor Storrie, one of the breakout stars of Heated Rivalry, reached a new milestone in his rapidly accelerating career on Monday night with his first-ever appearance on late-night television. The 25-year-old actor sat down with Seth Meyers on Late Night with Seth Meyers, marking a major moment in what has been a whirlwind rise to prominence over the past several weeks.

Storrie, who has surged into the spotlight alongside co-star Hudson Williams following the success of the Canadian queer hockey drama, appeared visibly moved as he stepped onto the stage. Smiling broadly, he paused to take in the applause from the audience before beginning his conversation with Meyers, clearly aware of how dramatically his life has changed in a short period of time.

The interview came less than 24 hours after Storrie attended the 2026 Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills. Despite not being nominated, he managed to generate considerable buzz throughout the evening. Meyers commented on the actor’s remarkably tight schedule, prompting Storrie to explain how he had left the awards ceremony around 8 p.m., briefly stopped at the Chateau Marmont for an after-party, snapped a quick photo with Parker Posey, and then rushed to the airport to catch a late-night flight in order to make the show.

During the interview, Storrie reflected on the unexpectedly broad appeal of Heated Rivalry and the growing popularity of queer romance stories. He noted that while male-male romances are often assumed to target gay male audiences, the response to the series has been far more diverse. According to Storrie, viewers from all backgrounds—and particularly women—have embraced the show enthusiastically, a statement that was met with loud cheers from the studio audience.

When the conversation turned to his role as Ilya Rozanov, Storrie admitted that portraying a professional hockey player was one of the most challenging aspects of the production. Meyers joked about how the show often cuts away from both the hockey scenes and the intimate moments, playfully referring to the latter as “the other thing.” Storrie leaned into the humor, quipping that while he handled the intimate scenes, the skating was less convincing.

He candidly recalled seeing behind-the-scenes footage posted by a costume designer and realizing that his skating skills were not as strong as he once believed. Watching the clips back, Storrie joked that any praise he had received for his on-ice performance was probably undeserved.

Meyers also asked about the sudden exposure Heated Rivalry has brought into Storrie’s life. The actor expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, revealing that before landing the role, he had been working as a waiter. He admitted that if the show hadn’t taken off, he was already preparing to find another job within a few months.

“To be paid to act, to do what I love, and to have the freedom to fund my own creative projects—it still feels unreal,” Storrie said. He hinted that those personal projects include his upcoming directorial debut, which he has spoken about enthusiastically throughout the show’s press tour.

The excitement surrounding Storrie’s late-night appearance began well before the interview aired. Fans gathered outside NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center hoping to catch a glimpse of the actor as he arrived for the taping. The scene mirrored the fan turnout seen the previous week when Hudson Williams made his own late-night debut on The Tonight Show.

In the lead-up to the episode, Late Night released a playful promotional video parodying Heated Rivalry. The clip featured Meyers attempting to convince Storrie to appear on the show, ending with a nod to one of Storrie’s now-iconic lines from the series, delivered in character with Ilya’s distinctive Russian accent.

Heated Rivalry, produced by Canadian streamer Crave and distributed in the U.S. by HBO Max, was adapted for television by Jacob Tierney and is based on novels by Rachel Reid. Set in a fictional professional hockey league, the series follows longtime rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as their competitive tension evolves into a complicated, years-long romantic relationship.

The show has already been renewed for a second season by Crave, with HBO Max confirming its continued involvement. Tierney, who wrote and directed the entire first season, is set to return, though he has indicated that he may bring additional writers on board as the series expands.

For Storrie, the late-night debut was not just another media appearance—it was a clear sign that Heated Rivalry has become far more than a sleeper hit, launching its stars into a new phase of their careers almost overnight.