Heated Rivalry star Franco Lo Presti is thanking his wife, Emily Alatalo, for the support and skills she continues to offer him.
“I had a lot of fun on the show, and I learned how to properly skate thanks to my wife, so I got a new skill in my back pocket there,” Lo Presti, 35, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while attending The Travel Lounge hosted by Peta Phipps on Saturday, March 14. “I’m just really proud of everyone, and they deserve all the success in the world.”
Heated Rivalry focuses on two professional hockey players, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who maintain a secret, long-term romantic relationship while playing for rival teams. Lo Presti plays Cliff Marleau, who is a friend and teammate of Ilya.
The steamy show is based on the hockey romance novel of the same name by Rachel Reid.
“I believe Rachel has a few books and I think they want to go the whole way with making it, like, a series and potentially a third, so who knows,” Lo Presti teased about the show’s future. “But sky’s the limit.”
For now, the actor is preparing for the very important role of father as he and his wife get ready to welcome their first child this summer.
While celebrating 2026 Oscars weekend at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, both Lo Presti and Alatalo, 40, couldn’t help but smile when discussing their future roles as parents.
“I think he’s going to be an amazing dad, because he loves to play,” Alatalo (who wore EKOUAER to the event) shared. “He is so playful and so loyal and so kind, and I think he’s gonna be so much fun, and he’s gonna have the best time being a dad.”
Lo Presti added, “I think she’s gonna be a great mom because she’s so aware and so in tune with people and aware with kids. I just think she’s going to be a very, very loving mother and just very attentive and allowing our child to really, really thrive in who they are without having fear. That’s what she does for me. Every time I’m scared, my wife takes that burden off me.”
While viewers may be falling in love with Ilya and Shane on the small screen, it’s hard not to root for Lo Presti’s real-life romance with Alatalo.
Although the pair met on the set of a holiday movie called Christmas Catch, it took about three years for the duo to start dating.
“I had no idea that he was interested in me, so we parted ways, and three years later, I tried to set him up with my best girlfriend, Jenna,” Alatalo shared. “He said the best line ever. I said, ‘I’m a little busy this week. I’m not sure.’ He said, ‘Well listen Emily, you let me know when you’re free, and I’ll make time for you.’”
Lo Presti replied, “I guess it works. Now we’re here. We got married in 2023 and we have a baby girl on the way.”
Heated Rivalry is streaming now on HBO Max.
