Connor Storrie didn’t expect fashion to become part of the conversation. But in his new cover story for VMAN 56, the Heated Rivalry star admits the transformation has been real, and surprisingly fun.
The 26-year-old actor, who leads the screen adaptation of Heated Rivalry, has seen his profile surge thanks to the HBO and Crave series. As the show continues to build a devoted audience, Storrie is processing what sudden visibility actually looks like, not just in streaming numbers, but in real life.
VMAN 56 hits newsstands March 16, and in the issue Storrie speaks candidly about style, fandom, creative control and where he hopes his career heads next.
Playing Dress-Up With Better Tailoring
Storrie says designer clothing wasn’t on his radar before stepping into the spotlight. That changed quickly.
Once he began trying on luxury pieces, he understood why fashion inspires such loyalty. The difference, he explained, isn’t abstract, it’s tactile. Fabric, fit and tailoring create an experience that’s hard to ignore. After wearing garments shaped precisely to his body, returning to standard sizing feels less appealing.
For Storrie, the appeal isn’t about labels. It’s about artistry. He describes photo shoots as an amplified extension of what drew him to acting in the first place. Film, he says, is essentially elevated make-believe. Wardrobe simply sharpens the fantasy.
When Streaming Fame Becomes Real
Online metrics can feel distant. Millions of views don’t always translate emotionally. For Storrie, the scale of Heated Rivalry’s success crystallized in a far more tangible way.
While driving through the city recently, he encountered a long line wrapping around a block. The crowd, he realized, was waiting to enter a club hosting a Heated Rivalry themed night. Seeing hundreds of people gathered, faces printed on posters, tickets sold out, reframed everything.
That moment, he says, made the series’ impact undeniable.
The experience has also brought unexpected opportunities. Storrie has found himself meeting filmmakers he admires, including Gregg Araki. He describes the current chapter as surreal. Even if the momentum stopped tomorrow, he suggests he would feel grateful for how far things have already gone.
Beyond the Ice Rink
Although Heated Rivalry introduced him to a global audience, Storrie isn’t eager to stay in one lane.
He says selecting future roles comes down to instinct. When he reads a script and can immediately visualize the character, that clarity signals something worth pursuing. He’s interested in testing new territory, particularly comedy and horror, genres he hasn’t yet explored.
At this stage, experimentation feels essential. Storrie calls himself new to the profession and wants room to stretch before settling into any specific identity onscreen.
Discovering Romance Readers
Despite starring in a series adapted from a bestselling love story, Storrie admits he wasn’t immersed in romance fiction beforehand. His sister was the reader in the family. His own recent reading list, he jokes, has largely consisted of the novels that inspired the show: Heated Rivalry and its sequel.
Speaking with author Rachel Reid helped him better understand the genre’s reach. He now sees the emotional investment within book communities firsthand. The fans he’s encountered are thoughtful and deeply engaged. Their enthusiasm has reframed how he views storytelling.
He also points out that the romance in his character’s arc isn’t isolated from the rest of the narrative. For him, love operates as one element within a broader personal journey.
Why Smaller Stories Still Matter
Storrie isn’t only acting, he writes and directs as well. He’s currently finishing production on a feature shot on his iPhone, a project developed alongside the demands of a press tour.
Working on both ends of the budget spectrum has shaped his perspective. While Heated Rivalry involved meaningful resources, he notes it would still be considered modest compared to blockbuster productions. Its success, he believes, demonstrates that scale alone doesn’t determine cultural impact.
Connection does.
Audiences respond to stories that feel intimate and human, regardless of price tag. For independent creators, that takeaway is empowering. Massive budgets can be helpful, he says, but they aren’t the sole ingredient for resonance.
For now, Storrie is balancing newfound attention with creative ambition. Fashion experiments, genre pivots and indie filmmaking all sit on the horizon. If the sold-out club nights are any indication, viewers are ready to follow wherever he goes next.
