Williams plays Shane Hollander in Heated Rivalry
November 24, 2025 Williams at the premiere of "Heated Rivalry" in Toronto
Photo: Harold Feng/Getty Images
Williams shot to fame at the end of 2025 when his show Heated Rivalry went viral. He plays Shane Hollander, the hockey team captain of the Montreal Metros. Shane sparks an unexpected romance with his rival, Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), and has to keep his relationship a secret from the public. Williams’ nuanced acting chops and chemistry with Storrie are undeniable, sending this small Canadian series by Crave to Internet fame.
Williams is half Asian
February 12, 2026 attends Gold House's Lunar New Year Gold Celebration in New York
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Gold House
Williams was born in a small town in British Columbia, Canada to a Korean mother and British-Dutch father. He said his mother was worried that his heritage would limit his opportunities in the industry. But luckily for Williams, Shane was always Asian Canadian in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, and director Jacob Tierney wanted to remain faithful to the books in his on-screen adaptation. Now he’s Canada’s hottest export.
Williams worked as a waiter before Heated Rivalry
April 10, 2025 Williams outside smoking
Photo: @hudsonwilliamsofficial via Instagram
Before Williams scored the golden ticket with Heated Rivalry, he was working as a waiter at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver. He moved there in 2020 to study acting, and began writing and directing short films in the meantime. “I loved it. That was how I paid my rent,” he said in his profile with The Hollywood Reporter. “It was paycheck to paycheck.” To all the struggling actors out there, let Williams be an inspiration. Your big break might just be around the corner.
Williams has already made his runway debut
While the phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry was still snowballing, Williams was already gearing up to be Hollywood’s next heartthrob. Shortly after the first season concluded, he made his runway debut opening for Dsquared2’s show at Milan Fashion Week. His look was very on brand: he walked out on the snowy runway in a part-denim layered jacket, leather pants and ski boots that look an awful lot like ice skates. Maybe Shane Hollander can be a model in Heated Rivalry’s second season?
Williams and Connor Storrie are best friends in real life
June 12, 2025 Williams and Storrie behind the scenes of "Heated Rivalry"
Photo: @hudsonwilliamsofficial via Instagram
Williams and his co-star Connor Storrie have been open about becoming best friends in real life and navigating sudden fame together. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Williams said, “I have one of my best friends for life right beside me through it all, which is already a luxury that a lot of actors don’t get.” Storrie has expressed the same affection, seeing their paths as almost serendipitous: “This has been the highlight of my life, and meeting Hudson makes that 10 times sweeter,” he said in an W magazine interview.
Williams has officially become Hollywood’s most wanted leading man
In the weeks after Heated Rivalry aired, you could be convinced Williams has more hours in the day than most average folks. He and Storrie presented at the Golden Globes together, then became torchbearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy. He met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney five days later at an event promoting the country’s film and TV industry. He even became an official Balenciaga “Friend of the House”, debuting in creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first campaign. It seems like Williams has what it takes to be the leading man on everyone’s tongue.
Williams’ next project is also with Crave
December 11, 2025 attends The Actors Night hosted by The Actor Awards & ELLE in Los Angeles
Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
While Heated Rivalry is slated to return with a second season, Williams isn’t leaving Crave any time soon. In February, he joined the cast of another series Yaga, based on Kat Sandler’s play of the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga. The mythic figure is a witch known for stealing and eating children, but also helping other folklore heroes. Whatever he may be in next, what’s certain is that Heated Rivalry won’t be the last we see of Williams.
Editor
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Lead image: Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
