IN CONVERSATION WITH KADEN CONNORS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Kaden Connors is quickly emerging as one of the most compelling young actors to watch, gaining international attention for his breakout role in Heated Rivalry and the passionate fan response surrounding the series. As conversations around queer storytelling continue evolving on screen, Kaden has become part of a new generation of performers helping bring emotional authenticity and vulnerability to complex characters and relationships. He is also building momentum on the independent film circuit with Lunar Sway, director Nick Butler’s offbeat comedy that premiered at BFI Flare and continues its festival run through Toronto and New York before a wider theatrical release later this year. Balancing rising visibility with thoughtful performances, he is establishing himself as both a promising actor and a fresh voice within contemporary queer cinema.

hat NOEL STUART
blazer RAF SIMONS from RD ARCHIVES
button up shirt MOSCHINO
pants BAOXIN KOU
boots UNDERCOVER ENGLAND from RD ARCHIVES
belt chain ARMANI EXCHANGE

Heated Rivalry has sparked a huge response online. What has this experience been like for you personally?

Honestly, some days I’d wake up and pinch myself, like, “Is this real?” During filming, I think we all felt the expertise attached to the project, and the idea of it doing well on Crave in Canada and for a niche pocket of fans was a no-brainer. But then it took over the world, and not one of us could’ve prepared for that. I count myself lucky and so grateful to be a part of it. Having met the minds behind Heated Rivalry, both Rachel Reid and Jacob Tierney, what stood out to me was their integrity in their approach to the story, the characters and their art. It’s been one wild ride, and I’m so happy that queer art is getting this level of reaction and celebration. It’s been an absolute joy to have existed in the story and then interact with the incredible fans outside of it. They have shared with me how it has changed their lives, in small ways or big ones.

hat NOEL STUART
ear cuff RICK OWENS
button up shirt GUCCI
vest VINTAGE CHANEL
jacket RAF SIMONS from RD ARCHIVES
boxers RAY CHU
shorts BULLY
socks LONDON SOCKS COMPANY
boots JIL SANDER

What drew you most to the role initially?

Initially, how taboo Sasha was. Sasha is Ilya’s Russian coach’s son, and they had a secret relationship, however they defined it, or didn’t. Something about it “feels wrong.” Talk about an interesting thing to explore as an actor. Homosexuality in Russia and a secret among a hockey league, must I say more? But I will, because beyond the thrill and stress of what that must’ve been like for those two boys, Ilya and Sasha, there’s a depth to my character I discovered. Presumably coming from wealth, Sasha prowls around dressed in confidence and charm, indulging himself in the pleasures of life. But why? Perhaps it’s a mask he wears to hide the pain of a familial relationship that’s suffering. Whether it be a parent who’s too busy for him, or a lack of a sense of purpose, or even him struggling with his own identity in a homophobic world. So Sasha was both fun to play and quite interesting to discover.

Why do you think queer love stories like this are resonating so strongly with audiences right now?

I think there’s many reasons stacked on top of each other. I believe the patriarchy as a system is not only cracking, but the world is coming to understand its bias and that many of us don’t fit in the mould. The current political climate is tense, polarised, and queer rights that have taken literal years of blood, sweat and tears to secure are being threatened and stripped from societies. Art is political. Everything is political. And the voices of queer people everywhere are loud, proud, and carry the weight of all those who came before them. It’s about damn time we have a queer love story. And this resonating, this reaction, among audiences, is proof that this is what the people want. Because love wins. Always.

hat NOEL STUART
top SACAI
pants PLUCKNETT
boots UNTITLAB

How important was authenticity to you in portraying the emotional dynamics of the series?

Vital. I believe that’s why Heated Rivalry succeeded the way it did. Yes, it’s spicy and controversial. But the real reason it had the impact it had, at least in my opinion, is because of how authentically it portrayed the emotional dynamics of the characters and the story. The industry loves to compartmentalise and put things in boxes. But Jacob knew he had something more precious than gold, and he had to do it justice, not only because it was personal but because it was powerful. He was picky with what platform he partnered with on Heated Rivalry in order to retain his creative freedom and carry out his vision in showcasing the emotional depth of the material and honouring his art. My part in it all was taking Sasha seriously, seeing him for who he was, not just what he represented, and handling his heart gently, not with judgment, but with compassion.

Has the sudden visibility changed the way you view your career or yourself as an actor?

Visibility can be reassurance, in a way, that people are seeing you, the artist, for the hard work that’s often done over years of hustling, head down, in the shadows. A kind of “give them their flowers,” so to speak. This is the journey of the actor, or the artist, going unnoticed or your craft unrecognised for a long portion of the road. So it can be validating and feel good, for sure, but the slippery slope of it is the temptation to credit this validation with your legitimacy as an artist. Art is made, whether audiences see it or not. And I was an actor before the world knew me as one. So for me, this visibility has been an encouragement, a breath of fresh air, and a pat on the shoulder. And I am grateful, but who I was and what I wanted for myself owned their space long before I felt the warmth of this spotlight.

shirt MAISON MARGIELA
jacket AGRO STUDIO
denim pants ALEXANDER DIGENOVA
boots DP JAMES BOOTS

How do you navigate social media attention and fan culture while staying grounded?

Protecting your peace and keeping your mental health at the forefront is key to navigating it. I’ve enjoyed interacting with people online and engaging with fans in real life. People have shared how Heated Rivalry has healed a part of them, or made the possibility of a queer “happy ending” feel real and tangible. The online world has connected strangers over this common obsession, and new friendships have come from it! I want to believe digital spaces are always full of positivity and feel safe for their respective communities, but of course, they can be toxic. Understandably, this can discourage artists from being chronically online, but perhaps that’s a good thing in a time where technology so easily disconnects us from present moments and what’s happening right before us. I find myself working on a healthy balance between utilising platforms to connect with fans and being totally offline, and exactly where I am with whom I’m with.

You're also starring in Lunar Sway. What attracted you to the tone and humour of this film?

Firstly, it’s set in a small desert town, and I love the visuals of the wild west and honestly, if you know me, anything cowboy related. As an actor, one of the first things you make an observation on is often the writing. Now, it’s an actor’s job to find the believability of what they’re saying and deliver it authentically, but when you’re gifted a brilliant script, it’s like Christmas. Nick Butler, the writer, director and creator of Lunar Sway, had such a way of painting his world, with dynamic characters, beauty and flaws, and this Lynchian, existential drifting-through-adventure that really hooked me in fast. I find humour is so often the catalyst for tackling very real and treacherous ideas. And, psychologically, human beings hide behind humour in order to cope with and process tough experiences. The moment that script landed in my hands, I knew I wanted to be in that little town of Mooncrest.

blazer NATALINO
kilt, belt, sporran, kilt pin KINLOCH ANDERSON
boots AGRO STUDIOS

The film premiered at BFl Flare. What did it mean to debut the project in that environment?

BFI Flare was an epic place to have our world premiere. One of the largest queer film festivals on the planet, as well as being located in London, so you can imagine it was extra exciting for us all to jet-set out there. It was an absolute honour to premiere at a queer film festival, showcasing queer art made by queer artists. I think we’d all agree we want to live in a world where art is art, people are people, and who we love or how we live doesn’t have to be singled out in order to normalise it, but the reality is that is exactly how it is normalised, to work towards a world where queer people can live proudly and without fear. BFI Flare was such a beautiful environment, full of talented people from all parts of the world, giving stage and light to queer stories, and to be there among them and take it all in was such a privilege and a joy.

You've also been stepping into the fashion world recently. How connected are fashion and self-expression for you?

Expression is so vital to the human experience. If we restrict our expression or hide ourselves, we suffer. Expression is how we talk, how we move, the way we dance, what we do, or how we dress ourselves. It’s all things, in a way, but mostly it’s authenticity. As an artist, expression is at the core of my craft of acting, but also with a background in modelling, I’ve spent some time in the fashion world. I find it so fun to plan an outfit and style myself. What you wear and how you wear it communicates a message, can make you or others feel something, and so much so, it is a way to find new avenues of freedom and expand your confidence. For me, there’s something so magical about witnessing a person expressing themselves as though they’re “dancing like nobody’s watching.”

jacket AGRO STUDIO
shirt NATALINO
denim NATALINO
boots UNTITLAB

How do you balance vulnerability as an actor with protecting your own personal identity?

This can be a tricky thing for a lot of actors, and perhaps it’s individual and something you refine along the way. There’s an element of make-pretend, imagination and play that’s involved in what we do, but there’s also the element of honesty and drawing from personal experiences. There’s a plethora of tools and strategies we actors can use in our work, but people can sense when an actor has been vulnerable and tapped into something real within themselves. It’s beautiful, and it’s risky. It’s fragile, and it’s moving. Our investments in the characters we play form a bond between the actor and who they are, and this character that stole a piece of their heart in order to exist. There’s a little bit of Kaden in all the characters I play, and it’s charming, but remembering who I am at the end of the day outside of these characters and these stories is important. I fall a little more in love each day I do what I do, and it can hurt when the time comes for you to walk away, but what it means is that I experienced something that mattered. And that will always be enough for me.

button up shirt ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
tie RD ARCHIVES
pants RD ARCHIVES
boots UNTITLAB
ring 97 SINS

What kinds of stories or characters are you hoping to explore more moving forward?

I love Indie films, and weird stories and characters. I hope to be in more queer films and stories based on real experiences. But I'm also a big sci-fi nerd, surprise or not, and am enthralled by science fiction worlds and absurdity. I am very intrigued by an irredeemable character, or an antagonist who finds a common enemy, or the ‘unlovable’ type. Good dynamic characters who aren’t hero or villain but flawed and human are so interesting to explore and portray. Most of all, as much as what actors do is entertainment, and we love to be dramatic and perform, the reward is in the art and in handling each character we play with gentleness and compassion. We contribute to the world, in our own little way, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than watching what we create affect people for the better.

blazer RAY CHU
trousers BAOXIN KOU
tie KATE BUTTERWORTH

TEAM CREDITS:

talent KADEN CONNORS
photographer CHARLOTTE HADDEN
stylist and art director LAYLA DESJARDINS
makeup MILAN REDDY-DEVLIN using RABANNE
hair SAM GROENEVELD using ORIBE
producer LAYLA DESJARDINS
videographer HAZEL HURLEY
stylist assistants TEAGAN GRIFFITHS, KATE BUTTERWORTH & KYLA CAMPBELL
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA