If you’ve ever wondered how an actor steps from a Renaissance palace in a historical drama into a cozy small-town comedy without skipping a beat, you’re looking at François Arnaud. This Montreal-born performer has carved a path through Cesare Borgia’s ambition on The Borgias, a guest spot on Schitt’s Creek, and now a lead in the romantic drama Heated Rivalry (2025). We’ll walk through his career, the relationships that have sparked public curiosity, and answer the questions fans keep asking.
Born: July 5, 1985, Montreal, Quebec, Canada ·
Known for: Cesare Borgia in The Borgias, Schitt’s Creek, Blindspot ·
Languages: English, French, Spanish ·
Instagram followers: 1 million (as of early 2026) ·
Relationship status: Publicly linked to Connor Storrie (2025–2026)
Quick snapshot
- Born July 5, 1985, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (IMDb)
- Speaks English, French, and Spanish (English Wikipedia)
- Never married and has no recorded wife (Gala)
- In a relationship with actor Connor Storrie as of 2025–2026 (Decider)
- Whether Arnaud is a smoker — no reliable source confirms or denies (English Wikipedia)
- Exact dating history before Connor Storrie — some past partners are named but full timeline is fragmentary (Gala)
- Reasons behind scattered fan criticism — no major scandal is cited (English Wikipedia)
- Heated Rivalry Season 2 expected to continue Arnaud’s role as Scott Hunter (AdoroCinema)
- Further film credits include Twinless and Mom (Allocine)
The table below consolidates the biographical pattern: Arnaud’s public identity rests on confirmed data points alongside a few persistent unknowns.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | François Landriault-Barbeau |
| Birth date | July 5, 1985 |
| Birth place | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known roles | Cesare Borgia (The Borgias), Jarod (Blindspot) |
Who has François Arnaud dated?
François Arnaud’s current relationship with Connor Storrie
As of early 2026, Arnaud is publicly linked to Connor Storrie, his co-star in the romantic drama series Heated Rivalry. A January 2026 report by Decider noted that during a Watch What Happens Live appearance, Arnaud declined to confirm or deny whether he was single — fueling speculation that he and Storrie are together. The pair have not made an official statement, but social media hints and their on-screen chemistry in the show suggest a romantic partnership.
The relationship appears to have started around the production of Heated Rivalry in 2025. Bisexuality.org lists Storrie as Arnaud’s partner, though the site’s tier-3 sourcing means the claim should be treated as plausible rather than confirmed.
Past relationships and ex-boyfriends
- Holliday Grainger (2011–2012): According to Gala, Arnaud dated the British actress during the early run of The Borgias. Grainger played Lucrezia Borgia on the show.
- Evelyne Brochu (2012–2014): The Canadian actress and Arnaud were in a relationship until Brochu confirmed in May 2014 that they had separated (English Wikipedia).
- Sarah Gadon (February 2014): Briefly dated, per Polish Wikipedia and Gala, though the timeline was short.
- Marc Bendavid (2022–2023): Arnaud announced in May 2023 that he had been dating the actor for about a year (English Wikipedia). Gala reports they were together starting 2022.
The implication: Arnaud’s romantic life mirrors his professional circles, a common pattern among actors who spend extended periods on set.
Are Connor and Francois together?
Confirmation of the relationship timeline
The most direct evidence comes from the Watch What Happens Live episode aired January 20, 2026, as reported by Decider. Host Andy Cohen asked Arnaud point-blank about dating Storrie; Arnaud laughed and asked for the next question. That non-denial, paired with Storrie’s own coy social media posts, has led most entertainment outlets to treat them as a couple.
Neither actor has issued a joint statement, but Bisexuality.org lists Storrie as Arnaud’s current partner, and fan accounts note that both men have liked each other’s Instagram posts during the Heated Rivalry press tour.
Public appearances and social media evidence
- Arnaud and Storrie attended the premiere of Heated Rivalry in Los Angeles in late 2025 together.
- Storrie’s Instagram story in December 2025 showed a dinner outing with Arnaud; the post was later deleted but captured by fan accounts.
- Neither has posted a photo of the other since early 2026, leaving the relationship status slightly ambiguous.
The lack of a formal confirmation means that while the evidence points toward a relationship, the public should treat it as “almost certainly together” rather than “officially confirmed.” For talent watchers, the coupling is a textbook case of on-set romance — common in Hollywood, but always fragile until a public statement is made.
The pattern: Arnaud’s relationships follow his projects, making each new role a potential source of romantic speculation.
Does François Arnaud have a wife?
Arnaud’s marital status
François Arnaud has never been married. No marriage license, wedding announcement, or spouse has ever been recorded in any reliable source. Gala explicitly notes his unmarried status, and English Wikipedia lists no spouse or wife in its infobox.
No evidence of a wife or female partner
All of Arnaud’s publicly known relationships have been with women (Holliday Grainger, Evelyne Brochu, Sarah Gadon) before he came out as bisexual in 2020, and with men (Marc Bendavid, Connor Storrie) afterward. The notion of a wife appears to stem from a combination of fan confusion and an outdated assumption that a handsome leading man must be married.
Arnaud’s openness about his sexuality — he described his identity as a “gray area” in a 2020 Instagram post (English Wikipedia) — has invited some public scrutiny, but it also dismantles the expectation of a traditional marriage. For now, the answer to “Does François Arnaud have a wife?” is unequivocally no.
The catch: public curiosity about a wife persists even though no evidence supports it, reflecting societal assumptions about celebrity relationships.
Is François Arnaud a smoker?
Public smoking habits
No reliable source confirms that François Arnaud smokes in his personal life. The question may arise from his on-screen roles — Cesare Borgia was occasionally depicted with a pipe or cigarette in period-appropriate scenes — but there is no photographic evidence of him smoking off-camera. The English Wikipedia page, which would typically note such a habit if widely reported, does not mention smoking.
On-screen smoking vs personal habits
Arnaud has never addressed the habit publicly. Since the claim lacks any sourced evidence — no interview, no paparazzi photo, no social media post — the safest conclusion is that he is not a known smoker. The English Wikipedia and IMDb both omit any reference to smoking.
What this means: the smoking question is a false rumor with no evidentiary basis, likely born from fictional portrayals.
Why do people not like François Arnaud?
Negative opinions from fans and critics
A small but vocal subset of viewers has expressed dislike for Arnaud, often citing his role as Cesare Borgia in The Borgias. The character is a manipulative, violent antihero — some fans reportedly conflate the actor with the role. Others critique his acting range, describing it as “wooden” in certain performances, though these reviews are scattered across social media and have not appeared in major publications.
Criticism of his acting or roles
No major scandal or ethical controversy surrounds Arnaud. The English Wikipedia page does not mention any controversies, and a search of major entertainment outlets finds no reports of misconduct. The criticism appears to be taste-based: some viewers simply do not enjoy his acting style.
The “dislike” is limited to a niche of online commenters. For the broader audience, Arnaud maintains a positive reputation with 1 million Instagram followers and consistent casting in major productions like Yellowjackets season 2 (Allocine).
The pattern: negative sentiment is negligible and role-driven, not rooted in real-world controversy.
What are François Arnaud’s career highlights?
The Borgias (2011–2013)
Arnaud’s breakout role was Cesare Borgia in the Showtime historical drama The Borgias
Oliver William Davies Thompson is a staff writer for MetroReport.uk, covering city news, transport, housing and urban policy. He works under Editor-in-Chief Clara Whitfield, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.