Connor Storrie had one of those days that can only happen for a Hollywood star.
His Wednesday began early with a high-profile stop at SAG-AFTRA headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard where he teamed with Abbott Elementary’s Janelle James to announce the nominees for The Actor Awards. Standing at a podium inside the Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Theater, he delivered a line that nailed his star is born arc thanks to a role as smoldering Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov in Jacob Tierney’s Heated Rivalry: “Eight months ago, I was literally waiting tables, so this is pretty wild. Now, instead of reading specials, I am reading nominations,” he said in a moment that went viral for encapsulating the meteoric rise with only six episodes.
After facing a crush of press in a Dolce & Gabbana suit and Hublot watch, he exited SAG-AFTRA flanked by his team of publicists from Shelter PR en route to a meeting with another new roster of reps on his side — a team of power agents at CAA.
By night, Storrie, then in a black satin Giuliva Heritage ensemble with a watch and diamonds by Chanel, landed on the cobblestone driveway at Chateau Marmont for Chanel’s Coco Crush campaign launch celebration headlined by Gracie Abrams and performer Lily Allen. But it was clear early on in the intimate evening that amid a sea of singers, artists and actors, it was Storrie stealing all the stares. “Everyone wants to meet you,” Tessa Thompson confirmed, microphone in hand, while addressing Chanel-clad dinner guests as Storrie looked on and blushed. For proof of just how high the fever for the Heated Rivalry phenom is, look no further than Instagram. When Abrams and Vogue recapped the night with carousels of pics, both led with images of Storrie.
It would be an overwhelming day for the most veteran of stars but Storrie, 25, was calm, cool and beaming throughout. Rather than stay glued to his phone, he clutched a pack of blue American Spirits while focusing on conversations or Allen’s mesmerizing performance of three songs off the critically acclaimed West End Girl about the dissolution of her marriage to David Harbour. “I just keep moving and be mindful about where I’m putting my attention,” Storrie told me about his laser focus amid a demanding schedule that includes reading new scripts from CAA, shepherding an experimental film he shot on an iPhone and juggling the demands of newfound stardom. I ran into him at both events Wednesday and asked how he’s holding up.
How are you staying sane right now?
It’s been so much that I honestly don’t have time to really process or think about it, which I think is kind of healthy. I try to stay off of comments and too much online stuff because our algorithms, especially now, are so geared towards whatever you intake that if you go online, it could just be all me. It’s like, OK, that’s not healthy and that’s not human to only look at yourself. I just keep moving and be mindful about where I’m putting my attention.
I wrote about you signing CAA this week. Have you thought about want to do next or what this year looks like?
A big part of my career and what I want to do that is right now with the show is I write and direct myself. I’m in the middle of doing an iPhone feature, this super indie kind of Sean Baker-esque film because I’m making it on an iPhone. I just want to develop as a filmmaker, too, alongside Heated Rivalry. I consider myself somewhat of a character actor in the sense that I really like to transform, as seen on the show. I want to be able to do that again too, see what that’s all about.
What’s the strategy with your agents?
They’re bringing me a bunch of cool opportunities that I can’t even believe I’m having. I’m just trying to do things that are cool and bold and swing big. I’m just talking to people and feeling it out. I’m very big on vibes too, because I think that even though you want to work with the best of the best or have parts that are ideally really cool, at the end of the day, it comes down to vibe. It’s really about meeting people and seeing if you’re on the same creative wavelength. That’s why I think something like Heated Rivalry did what it did. Me and Hudson before this weren’t even nothing but we just had such a good rapport with each other and Jacob.
And are you reading scripts already?
Yeah. A lot. I mean, I don’t really have time, to be honest.
I was going to say, when have you had the time?
I have a lot of plane time coming up. I’m probably going to [then]. I can’t really sleep on planes.
I’m interviewing you while you’re standing next to Gracie Abrams. You’ve said that you just dreamed of being able to do the work but there’s a lot around it now. How are you processing these experiences?
I’ve said this before, I don’t really have the time to process it, and that’s true. We were doing things every single day from Nov. 19 until Dec. 20. I had a little break for the holidays. To be honest with you, I just really try to center myself on the creative projects that I’m actively writing. I’m doing this iPhone feature that I’ve also been trying to tackle on top of doing all of this. I have a few events in the next few nights and the days leading up, from like 7 a.m. until like 4 p.m., so I’m shooting my movie, going home, getting ready and then going to whatever meetings or events I have. Having something active to do is what makes it doable.
Seeing you this morning and then again tonight, I’m thinking about style since it was Dolce & Gabbana in the morning and now you’re here at Chanel. Is there an overall Connor Storrie style strategy [with your stylist James Yardley]?
Fashion was never really on my mind before getting into this world. The thing is about nice things is you don’t know why you like nice things until you start being around nice things. I was never a car guy and then the first time you get in a really nice car, you’re like, oh, I get why people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a nice car. It’s kind of the same thing with clothes. Getting to wear designer clothes, you’re like, oh, I understand why people spend the money if they have it. Nice things are nice and it feels good and sexy to be in nice things.
Speaking of nice things, you’re going to the Golden Globes as a presenter and it’s cool that you and Hudson Williams get to do it together.
I’m excited. I think that’s a really good platform for Hudson and I to be ourselves. Just think of the iconic duos that have been there and to be one of those is kind of … it’s making me think of Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey. I’m excited that Nikki Glaser is doing it. It’s going to be great.
In between seeing you, I saw some clips online of the sheer pandemonium outside Jimmy Fallon today when Hudson arrived. Did you see that?
No, I didn’t have Instagram on my phone today because I had a lot going on, so I usually will get rid of the app when I really need to lock in. I texted Hudson, “How did it go?” And then I forgot. He was like, “It was really great. How did your thing go?” I was like, “It was really great.”
The fandom is so proud and protective of you guys. One of the reports that came out stated that you had already signed on for three years, which led people online to speculate if you were getting paid enough or getting a bonus. Has there been a contract renegotiation or a nice bonus with the show’s massive success?
To be honest, I have a lawyer and a business manger now so I have someone who kind of gets to do the deals for me. I’m surviving. I’m happy. I’m happy I get to make money doing what I want to do and I’m just happy that I’m not waiting tables anymore. That’s all I’ll say, money wise.
What has been the most meaningful text, email, DM you’ve received over the past month?
From my mom. [This is] going to be emotional. My mom said something really interesting, like, “With you starting to do well in your career that you always wanted to do,” she said, “I feel this massive weight lifted off of me or a sense of relief.” She feels that part of her purposes in life or her life’s journey or calling was to support me in this. Now that it’s gaining momentum, she said, “I feel this sense of relief for myself.” That made me cry.
Interview edited for length and clarity. See below for views inside Storrie’s Wednesday in L.A.
Read the full article here
