Connor Storrie: Heated Rivalry, Bio, Languages & Rumors

You might know Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, the Russian hockey player who stole scenes—and hearts—in Crave/HBO’s Heated Rivalry. But behind that breakout performance lies a tangle of rumors about his languages, his relationships, and even a bizarre Joker theory.

Date of Birth: February 22, 2000 · Birthplace: Odessa, Texas, USA · Breakout Role: Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry · Age (as of 2025): 25

Key facts

Actor Connor Storrie’s documented profile remains thin beyond his breakout series, with several attributes unconfirmed by authoritative sources.

Is Connor Storrie the real Joker?

A curious rumor circulates online that Connor Storrie somehow played the Joker—or is connected to the DC role. No credible source supports this. Storrie’s known credits are limited to Heated Rivalry; he has never been cast in a Batman-universe project.

What is Joaquin Phoenix’s disability?

• Joaquin Phoenix portrayed the Joker in the 2019 film Joker. He has publicly discussed his experiences with mental health, but no official disability is attached to the actor or the character as part of the rumor.

“Collider’s coverage positions Connor Storrie as a leading-man breakout rather than as a comic-book or ‘Joker’ type casting story.”

— Collider (film & TV news outlet)

The implication: Storrie’s name is being attached to far bigger franchises than his current résumé supports. Without any production statement or credible report, the Joker rumor remains exactly that—a rumor.

Is Connor Storrie a polyglot?

During Episode 5 of Heated Rivalry, Storrie delivered a lengthy phone monologue entirely in Russian. Collider reports that Russian is not his first language and that he practiced for several hours daily over a month and a half. Some Russian extras reportedly believed he actually knew the language.

Is Connor Storrie fluent in Russian?

• No independent test of his fluency exists. His preparation was role-specific, not indicative of full proficiency.

Does Connor Storrie actually speak French?

• A social media post by AT Frenchies shows Storrie speaking French, but no credible source confirms his fluency level.

Why does Connor Storrie speak French?

• He has not publicly explained his French ability. It may stem from personal study or family background, but no verified information is available.

“Collier says some Russian extras believed Storrie really knew Russian.”

— Collider

The pattern: documented language use is limited to Russian lines learned for a role. Calling Storrie a “polyglot” stretches the evidence. He has demonstrated ability in English and prepared Russian dialogue; French remains unverified.

Are François Arnaud and Connor Storrie together?

François Arnaud, the Canadian actor known for The Borgias, has been linked to Storrie by fans based on social media interactions and co-star speculation. Neither party has confirmed a romantic relationship.

Is François Arnaud single now?

• Arnaud has not publicly declared his current relationship status. His personal life remains private.

“No official confirmation of a romantic relationship from either Connor Storrie or François Arnaud.”

— Consensus across available sources

The catch: without a direct statement from either actor, any claim of a relationship is pure speculation. Storrie’s personal life is largely undocumented by authoritative sources.

Can Connor Storrie actually skate?

Given that Heated Rivalry is a hockey romance, many fans wonder whether the actor himself can skate. No credible source has confirmed skating ability. The role may use stunt doubles or CGI, and Storrie has not demonstrated skating in any interview or behind-the-scenes footage.

• No evidence supports the claim that Storrie skates.

What this means: the rumor is unsubstantiated. Until Storrie or the production addresses it, assume the skating seen on screen is not necessarily the actor’s own skill.

Is Connor Storrie’s accent real?

Connor Storrie was born and raised in Odessa, Texas, and speaks with a standard American English accent in real life. Any accent he uses in Heated Rivalry—such as a Russian inflection for Ilya Rozanov—is a deliberate performance choice.

• No source indicates he speaks with a non-American accent off-screen.

The trade-off: an actor’s job is to sound convincing. Storrie’s accent in the show is praised, but it’s not his natural voice.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

The split between confirmed and unclear items shows how little authoritative documentation exists for Storrie outside his Collider-covered role.

Key perspectives

“Storrie confirmed on Late Night with Seth Meyers that he practiced Russian for several hours each day for a month and a half.”

— Collider

“The YouTube clip describes Ilya Rozanov as ‘an icon’.”

— YouTube (fan channel)

These perspectives reinforce that Storrie’s known public narrative is driven by a single major role and a single intensive language preparation anecdote.

Forward stake

Connor Storrie’s career is only months old, but the rumors are already piling up. For fans trying to separate fact from fiction, the evidence is thin: a few solid credits, one impressive language performance, and a lot of speculation. For Storrie, the risk is that the noise drowns out the work—or worse, that unverified claims become accepted as truth.

For anyone following his rise, the choice is clear: trust only what can be sourced, or let the internet write his biography for him.

Frequently asked questions