Viewers of the steamy new hockey romance series Heated Rivalry have been left utterly gobsmacked this week, not by a plot twist, but by the real age of one of its leading men.
The Age Revelation That Shocked Fans
The series, which finally launched for UK audiences this month on Sky and the streaming service NOW, follows the intense relationship between two closeted gay ice hockey players. While the story focuses on Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, a parallel plot involves Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals, portrayed by Canadian actor François Arnaud.
In the show, Scott Hunter is depicted as a professional athlete in his mid-twenties. However, fans performing a quick online search were stunned to learn that Arnaud is, in fact, 40 years old. The actor, who began his career with a breakout role in the historical drama The Borgias back in 2011, looks decades younger than his true age, sparking a wave of disbelief on social media.
Social Media Erupts in Disbelief
The discovery sent fans flocking to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock and seek the secret to his youthful appearance. One viewer exclaimed, 'No way Francois Arnaud is 40 years old... he looks 30 years old MAX. I need his skincare routine.'
Another fan chimed in, 'Tfym François Arnaud is 40. Girl, I thought he was like 31. See how you age when you’re bisexual and unproblematic.' The sentiment was widely shared, with a third user writing, 'What do you mean François is 40 years? What,' and another stating bluntly, 'No f**king way Francois is 40 like what the f**k are they feeding him thats a man in his 20s.'
The online reaction highlights the actor's successful portrayal of a character significantly younger than himself, a testament to his skill and evidently well-preserved looks.
A Star on the Rise and Family Pride
The age revelation comes hot on the heels of another personal story from the Heated Rivalry set concerning co-star Connor Storrie. The actor, who plays Ilya Rozanov, has seen his life change dramatically since the show's success.
His family in Odessa, Texas, have spoken proudly of his rapid rise. His mother, Linda, 57, revealed he showed acting talent from the age of four, meticulously re-enacting The Wizard of Oz. His grandmother, Scarborough, 74, told the Daily Mail, 'We're all shocked it happened this fast but we're happy for him... He's gone in six weeks from unknown to suddenly everyone knows who he is.'
Heated Rivalry, adapted from Rachel Reid's popular novel, first premiered on HBO Max in Canada in November last year. Its UK debut this month has quickly cemented its status as a must-watch, blending sports drama with a poignant LGBTQ+ romance narrative.
The series is available to stream now in the UK exclusively on Sky and NOW.
