Connor Storrie, who captured the attention of audiences worldwide as hockey player Ilya Rozanov in the queer romance series Heated Rivalry, has received his first Emmy nomination. The recognition comes for his guest hosting role on NBC's Saturday Night Live earlier this year.
The nomination places Storrie in the category for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, acknowledging his performance in the February episode of the long-running sketch show. Tapping into an improv background from his time at the Groundlings comedy theatre, Storrie's hosting duties saw him in a variety of sketches, from period dramas to physical comedy.
In a statement reacting to the news, Storrie called the experience a "'pinch me' moment" in his career. "It was a formative part of my life growing up, so to be recognized by the Academy for hosting feels incredibly surreal," he said. "I’m so grateful to everyone who made that night possible."
A Mainstream Nod Amid Emmy Ineligibility
While Storrie's individual performance earned a nomination, the series that brought him to prominence, Heated Rivalry, was not in the running for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. The show, which is available in the Netherlands on HBO Max, is a Canadian production for the streamer Crave. Under Emmy rules, its lack of U.S. ownership makes it ineligible for the main awards, though it can compete at the International Emmys.
This technicality has not stopped the show from gaining critical acclaim elsewhere. Heated Rivalry recently dominated the Canadian Screen Awards, winning a record-breaking 16 awards, including Best Drama Series and a Best Lead Performer award for Storrie's co-star, Hudson Williams.
The Emmy nomination marks another significant step in Storrie's rapid rise to prominence. Just over a year ago, he was reportedly working as a waiter in Los Angeles before being cast in the role that would make him and Williams internationally recognized figures in one of the most talked-about queer series of the year.
