As 2025 came to an end, Kaden Connors emerged as a new face to watch, steadily building visibility through distinct supporting roles in two high-profile projects. His performance as Sasha in Heated Rivalry put him at the center of one of the year’s most talked-about series, a production that unexpectedly expanded far beyond its original Canadian scope. This followed his appearance in Netflix’s The Wrong Paris, a romantic comedy starring Miranda Cosgrove, further signaling his growing presence across international platforms.
In this conversation, Connors reflects on the momentum of the past year, his process of building characters from the inside out, the role fashion and physicality play in his performances, and the creative ambitions driving him forward as an emerging storyteller.
01. 2025 has become a defining year in your career. How does it feel to be a part of projects like Heated Rivalry and Netflix’s The Wrong Paris as they reach increasingly global audiences?
It’s fun, and overwhelming, but not in a bad way! I think artists can often imagine what it will feel like, but you can never truly know until you start experiencing it. I feel so lucky and proud to have been a part of two major projects this year that audiences have loved. Both films have such great storylines and I enjoyed just how contrasting my characters were between the two.
02. Heated Rivalry began as a Canadian production and has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. Looking back, from the audition stage to filming and now seeing the audience response, what has shifted most for you along the way?
To be honest, from the very beginning, the lot of us saw the potential and knew how big this project could become. When I received the audition, my agents immediately noted it was a “Jacob Tierney project.” He’s an icon in the Canadian film and TV landscape. Anything that man touches has major success. After reading the script, and then the book Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, it was a no-brainer that this type of TV show is what people have been waiting for.
I think the people in charge have been a little hesitant for years to make this jump, and Jacob took it. And thank God he did, because here we are now. The only thing I will say is, the fans warned us how big this was before our TV show was even made. So when news outlets and reporters everywhere started commenting on the show, it was a moment of “I told you so” as the internet broke over the hype.
03. You play Sasha in Heated Rivalry, a character who leaves a strong and immediate impression. How did you prepare for him, both emotionally and physically, to give him that presence on screen?
I actually had a lot of prep for the character, most of which was working with a dialect coach, Kate Yablunovsky, who was teaching me both the accent and Russian language. When it came to developing the character, Sasha was a pretty clean slate as he was only briefly referenced in the book. So, as an actor, it was a treat to be able to co-create with Jacob and the team over who Sasha was and is.
A lot of playing a character is doing the work but not showing the work, meaning the prep settles into your muscle memory so you can simply exist as the person through impulse. For Sasha, knowing he’s wild, likes to party, has no problem seducing people to get what he wants, and is under the influence of certain drugs in that moment, so much of him was lived through his body and the way he likes to “play.” Especially between Sasha and Ilya, the energy was actively charging through the scene. The closer they got, the more Sasha existed, or at least that’s how it felt in my experience.
04. Much of Sasha’s impact comes through intimacy, tension, and body language rather than dialogue. How do you navigate vulnerability and confidence in scenes driven primarily by physicality?
In regards to filming such a scene, the production upholds such professionalism. There’s an intimacy coordinator on set who helps the process between actors go smoothly and calm any natural nerves, which is really just energy in the body. Remembering the reality you exist in is vital. For Sasha and Ilya, they were alone in that bathroom. The only thing that existed was each other and that empty space.
You block everything else out and sink fully into the moment. I will say, the key to almost everything in acting is to have fun with it. Not to make light of something serious, but because something magical happens when people have fun, they let their guard down. Playing Sasha, I was having so much fun. Vulnerability and confidence came easily. When you trust your scene partner and the people supporting you on set, that’s when you’re free to really do your thing.
05. Before a character even speaks, clothing already tells part of the story. How does menswear and styling influence your creative process as an actor and storyteller?
In my earlier days acting on stage, I’d often get into costume during rehearsals, or at least parts of it, sometimes just the shoes. These tangible things help ground an actor and enter that world. What we wear can have a powerful impact. Fashion triggers emotions, moods, and opinions. It can move us from one headspace to another.
In my personal life, I love expression and don’t limit it. I enjoy playing with style and I’m a big thrifter. I love finding vintage pieces. What we wear is often the first thing people see. It can be a beautiful mechanism to share both our visual and internal story.
06. Stepping back from the screen, your career officially began in Vancouver, but your creative roots go much deeper. What is your earliest memory of being creative, and which early experiences shaped your artistic identity?
My artistic journey began in childhood. I ran around the neighbourhood with a camcorder making videos with my friends. I loved theatre, being on stage, and visual art like sketching, painting, and sculpting. All of it came down to human expression and storytelling.
As I grew up and into my twenties, I wrestled with religion and queer identity. Those struggles became two beautiful sources of inspiration from which I now create, to encourage, inspire, and spread love.
07. If you had to define your current visual and emotional language through eight key references, artists, films, books, or cultural figures, what would they be?
This is tough because I love so many different things and my aesthetic changes often. I don’t like standing still for too long. But I’d say my eight key references are:
01. Canadian filmmaker Jacob Tierney
02. The book The Alchemist
03. The band LANY
04. Mid-century 1960s–70s European sci-fi illustration and retro-futurist space art
05. Meryl Streep
06. The Star Wars series Andor
07. The film Beautiful Boy
08. Ethical brands like Patagonia, though I also love the thrill of thrifting and recycling clothing
08. Looking ahead, how do you hope to continue evolving as a storyteller, and what kinds of projects or characters are calling you next?
I randomly get inspired by story ideas and jot them down. Over the years I’ve built a “Bible” of concepts, from one-line ideas to full scripts. This year I wrote and directed my first short film, and I’d love to continue exploring filmmaking alongside acting.
I’m a huge sci-fi lover and have a soft spot for indie films because they often prioritize art over financial incentives. I really enjoy playing villain characters, but I’m deeply drawn to stories about the nuances of being human, redemption arcs where the thing meant to defeat a hero becomes something beautiful.
Kaden posed remotely from Los Angeles for photographer Carlos Venegas, wearing pieces by Nobody Knows, Wrangler, Hanes, Uniqlo, and Jack & Lola.
