IN CONVERSATION WITH HUDSON WILLIAMS
interview by DOMINIKA GŁOWACZ
Breaking records of queer television, Heated Rivalry has become the breakout series, and at the centre of the heat is Hudson Williams. The new star of the popular Crave/HBO Max hit talks about his role preparation, creative process, and the journey that brought both him, and the series to record viewership and ratings just two episodes into its debut.
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Did you hear about the book before auditioning for Shane’s role, or was it completely new to you?
It was completely new to me. I didn't even know hockey smut was this big, international thing. I thought hockey was already niche, let alone gay hockey. I didn’t even know what to imagine exactly, so yeah, this was new thing for me, but I'm very glad it found me!
Did you ever expect the show to become such a hit so quickly, and for fans to connect with you as Shane so intensely?
I definitely thought it would have a passionate fan base of the people it found but I did not think it would be this thing that — like you mentioned — is everywhere on social media.
It's become a show that everyone gathers their friends around, people are recommending it to each other and have screening nights; that blows my mind. But it also it startled me how much they connected with Shane.
To me, he always felt very personal — he's neurodivergent, he's autistic and he has this flat affect. I knew a few people were going to understand from their own experience what this character represents, and how much there is under the surface, but it's just filtered through this kind of monotone. The fact that so many people like him really surprised me in the best way possible; I’m happy that he resonates with people who watch the show.
Do you have a favourite edit of yourself that fans have made?
I do have one, but it's one of Connor, to the song Rasputin. That edit to that song is just beyond. Also, Should I Stay or Should I Go? is fantastic, and then also there's one to Maneater. It makes our show look like it's the best fucking thing — but it's that the edits are just so good.
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How was it to transform into Shane? Did you have any routines on set that helped you get into character each day?
For sure! I think a lot of it starts before you even show up on set. I did a lot of talking about him like he's someone I can control with dials. My dad is autistic, so I talked to him and that made me question: “is he more than this?” I was talking to Jacob, whether he is more Sidney Crosby level or Connor McDavid super robotic, or do I need to make him cinematic and enjoyable watching to a degree. But above all I knew I had to make him authentic. When I stepped into that mindset, I kind of started to wear him like a giant mask that engulfs my whole body – and then I just try. It takes me very little to fill myself up with anxiety, sadness or fear. I give myself like two minutes to do that because if I tried to go longer, I would just start focusing on being sad and then I get unfocused. So usually a minute before we start rolling, I just let my body fill up with all the emotions I need.
Was there a scene you found particularly challenging, and how did you overcome it?
Oh my God, there were a lot of scenes that were challenging for factors you wouldn't even think of. I remember there's a full spectrum of emotions in the bathroom scene in episode two where he goes from “fuck you, I hate you, whatever, you're an asshole” to “please suck my dick.” When I saw that on paper, I was like, what the hell? How do I get here? I didn't want to talk to Jacob yet. I wanted to find my own way in, and then it became one of my favourite scenes to do because it informed the rest of the character that is always there under all that anger and sadness. That scene says, “I want you and not just in a sexual way, but I like you, you make me swoon, you make me melt.” I think that's a really interesting layer.
Another scene like that was the hospital one in a hospital bed. It has that same underlying feeling of “I melt when I see you,” but I had to amplify it because Shane was in a hospital and on drugs. That felt really rewarding because I’ve got to imagine how this character would behave. I've been on anaesthetics before; unfortunately, I’ve got a lot of injuries, so I remember and also saw a lot of videos of me being high in a hospital. But I was wondering how Shane would handle this. At first it was a little tricky but once I found it, that was one of the only times I stayed in character on set for such a long period. I just knew I couldn't fake it on the spot, so I needed to stay in the drunkenness of it.
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How did you feel about playing a queer main character, and did you feel any pressure to represent the role authentically, especially given the importance of queer voices in the acting industry?
Absolutely! You want to play these characters, whose identity is this huge part of them. It's intrinsic. Unfortunately, for many it remains an internal battleground, but it is also something profoundly beautiful—shaping entire lives—and I wanted to honour that. And more specifically, I wanted to honour Shane's queerness, because it's different from being bisexual, it's different from being gay in New York, it's different from being gay in a very liberal LA family. He’s this hyper disciplined kind of robotic little hockey boy, who comes to terms with him being very gay and very not bi. I think that experience was really important to me. Then I tried to let go of the pressures of trying to handle all of queerness because that is a large spectrum. Specificity is way more important, I think, when tackling a tricky subject matter than trying to address everything or else it feels more offensive because you simply can't properly address everyone's experience. I just had to focus on this one fucking robot boy's little queerness.
Did you add anything personal to your character that wasn’t originally in the script but made it into the final cut?
I remember I didn't know if Shane was autistic. I only found out later through Rachel's post, but I was like, well, if this motherfucker isn’t an autistic, I don't know who is. I spoke a little bit about it with my father, and that's what I did in the audition room. I just worked on it further to like incorporate into all his little idiosyncrasies. And then, I put a lot of effort into my body and my voice being coiled and what that looks like.
A difference from the script, I would say is Shane isn't crying during the break up talk with Rose. Both in the book and in the scripts, he's not crying, but I wanted it when I read it. I just felt that's exactly what he'd be doing. And it's the first person who's seeing him, and – forgive my Gen Z term – holds space for him or just lets him exist fully open. Also in the hospital room, he was meant to be loopy, but not druggy like that – both in the books and the scripts, he's not that juvenile., I remember at one point, I was doing an impersonation of what I was going to do. I did it a little bit more cartoonishly, and Jacob asked me if that was really what I was going to do on the hospital bed? And I was like, yep! I kind of just owned it. Then by the time we started shooting it, Jacob was crying because, I guess, he just didn't see the charm of it when I was trying to pitch it to him. But, this was the only way I wanted to do this hospital scene. And I'm really glad I did.
And one thing I added, that was fun, was a moment of improv is before I kiss Ilya after I say “Scott Hunter's right next door.” I wanted to keep his Canadian thing going.You don't see my feet, but I take my shoes off before I lunge to kiss him. It felt not only very Canadian but also very Shane, even in his moment of passion,e's not walking with his shoes on. So that was a fun little addition.
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Do you have a favourite scene from the show?
I love Ilya's phone call. I think Connor is really beautiful in that scene. I also really like the hospital scene from episode five, the bathroom scene from episode two, my scene with my mom in episode six and what else? Oh my God! The kiss scene from episode five is so interesting because it combines two books; the way that was done is really, really fun.
You worked before in hospitality before this show. How was the transition from your previous job to working on such a large production with devoted fandom?
I did it right up until we began shooting. It's a wild change. I was very glad to be leaving for a job in Toronto, but I didn't really believe it until I got there. I sort of mentally accepted that I’d do my serving job for a few years, so when this opportunity to be a part of a show came, I just didn't really believe that it would amount to any bigger change for me. I went with a mindset that I was just happy to be there. They had told me it was a small Canadian show but it most certainly didn't feel that way. It looked really big and we had some pretty cool sets — I don't know what was small or Canadian about it.
The fact that it just kept on growing so rapidly without really listening to what people were trying to sell it as, that just continues to blow me away to the point where now I'll believe anything. I didn’t expect any of this to happen; it’s just constantly exceeding expectations. I almost feel nostalgic about the restaurants because that life seemed easy and safe — this feels like a tornado.
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What was your reaction when you were recognised for the first time because of the show?
It’s a weird feeling, but it’s nice when people recognise you and already have a relationship with you, even though you don’t know them. That’s a little odd, but usually it comes with a lot of appreciation that they have for you, which just feels good. You definitely start feeling like you’re being watched all the time. It’s just an adjustment period, and I’m still learning how to deal with that but so far, everyone who has come up to me and recognised me has been so very kind. I’m grateful for every picture I can take or every thing I can sign because it makes them happy.
What would Shane's Spotify Wrapped like this year?
I think it would be smooth jazz. Maybe it would accidentally be Neil Young, but I don’t think he even knows who Neil Young is. I feel like it would just end up on his playlist. If he was getting really, really edgy, The Rolling Stones would be there — and then Clairo, too.
If you weren’t acting, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
I’d be a writer in some capacity, whether a failed one or not. Either screenplays or a script editor, maybe even a cinematographer, but I think it would be in film. And if it wasn’t in film, then a UFC fighter — it was my first love when it comes to sports, and a dream that didn’t happen. That being said, I definitely prefer this current dream happening.
If you could say one sentence to your future self, what would it be?
Never lose your spark of madness.
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left:
leather pants DSQUARED2
coat NAMILIA
right:
coat NAMILIA
jeans SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
full look WILLY CHAVARRIA
hoodie ENTIRE STUDIOS
left:
beanie RHODE
full look DSQUARED2
right:
full look DSQUARED2
full look ENTIRE STUDIOS
boots GROUNDS
TEAM CREDITS:
talent HUDSON WILLIAMS
photography TYLER PATRICK KENNY
styling ADRIÁN JOSE RAMOS DIAZ
grooming AIKA FLORES at The Wall Group
styling assistant RUBEN GARCIA
videography and music ANDREY FRAZÃO
production assistants KAILANI RAE and JAYDON TONEY
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview DOMINIKA GŁOWACZ
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
special thanks to LA KINGS VALLEY ICE CENTER for the location
location host MICHAEL SANTIAGO
