Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty
Cindy Ord/Getty
Outlanderfirst premiered in 2014, and over the past decade, creator Ronald D. Moore has transformed author Diana Gabaldon’s popular books into a historical drama worthy ofseven seasons.
Executive producer Maril Davis promises that it’sOutlander’s “biggest season yet.”
“I will say we’ve talked so much about the Revolution coming — it’s like “winter is coming” inGame of Thrones. Next season, the American Revolution is here," Davis said in an interview withVariety. “We’re gonna straddle so many storylines and so much ground is covered in this season. Everyone goes on such a crazy arc this season.”
From theirOutlandercasting stories to the wigs they wear on set, here’s everything to know about the lead actors of this critically-acclaimed period piece.
Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser
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Originally from a small town in Ireland, Caitriona Balfe, 43, spent her 20s as a runway model in Paris — walking for brands such as Chanel, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton. She then pivoted to acting.
Balfe was cast as the fiercely resilient Claire Fraser just days before production for season 1 was slated to begin.
“I did the chemistry read and then it was like, ‘Can you move to Scotland in three days?’ ” Balfe said during an interview onThe Hollywood Reporter’s podcastAwards Chatter.
She also recalled what Ronald D. Moore said to her before she signed the contract: “His exact words were, ‘Are you ready for your life to change?’ He literally said that as the elevator was opening, and I was like, ‘I guess?’ ”
According to Balfe, it takes several hours in the hair and makeup chair to transform into Claire — especially now that her character is in her late fifties.
“In season one, my hair was permed and hot-rollered every day,” Balfe toldAllure, admitting she was happy when they transitioned to using wigs after season 3. “Once the wigs are set and done, [the styling] is usually not happening on my head. That’s the great part: You get your head wrapped, and then they just stick them on.”
Outlanderhas skyrocketed Balfe to fame. She has 75 episodes ofOutlanderunder her belt and has played significant supporting roles in films likeFord v FerrariandBelfast. Balfe has also won two People’s Choice Awards, a BAFTA and has been nominated for five Golden Globes.
In August 2019, Balfe married music producer Anthony “Tony” McGill. Theywelcomed a sontwo years later.
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser
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Sam Heughan, 43, was a “needle in a haystack,” according toOutlanderexecutive producer Maril Davis, who was instrumental in casting the role of Jamie Fraser.
“On the first round of casting, Sam’s audition tape came up and we watched it. We instantly knew he had the charisma, he had the charm, he had the humor to play Jamie," Davis recalled toEntertainment Tonight. “Heughan was born to play Jamie Fraser.”
What Heughan didn’t possess was Jamie’s bright red locks.
“I’m a natural blonde.It gets dyed. It’s pretty horrific. I have to get it dyed a crazy amount — it’s like every three weeks,” he told PEOPLE. “It’s not easy. It’s hard being a ginger.”
Doors swung wide open for Heughan after solidifying his role as Jamie — the charismatic and uber-masculine leader of the Fraser clan. In 2021, he hosted a documentary-style series,Men in Kilts, with fellowOutlanderstar Graham McTavish. A year later, he published a memoir:Waypoints: My Scottish Journey. Heughan also co-founded Sassenach Spirits — a nod to Jamie’s nickname for Claire.
Sophie Skelton as Brianna Randall Fraser
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British actress Sophie Skelton, 29, started acting at the age of 17. Her credits also include an appearance onDoctors, as well as 12 episodes on the English sitcomSo Awkward.
“I wanted to be a surgeon for quite a long time as well. I think my parents were actually quite disappointed when I wanted to take the acting route,” she said in an interview withHarper’s BAZAAR. “They love it now. They really likeOutlanderactually, so they were thrilled when I got the job.”
Skelton auditioned for the role of Brianna Randall Fraser, the daughter of Claire and Jamie, twice — once in 2014 and again a year later. She was eventually introduced toOutlanderfans during season 2.
In Gabaldon’s books, Brianna is described as a 6-foot-tall redhead with blue eyes.Outlander’s hair and makeup team didn’t ask Skelton to wear colored contacts, but they did attempt to dye her dark brown hair. After a disastrous result, production bought wigs for the actress.
“They had to bleach it, but then it got bad. It became like straw and then it just kind of fell out,” the actress toldTown & Country. “I remember one of the first days when we went to the salon. They put all that foil on, and I never really dyed my hair, and then they took it off and all I could hear was someone behind me go, ‘Oh my God.’ ”
Richard Rankin as Roger Wakefield
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Richard Rankin, 40, was a relatively successful actor before joining the cast ofOutlanderas Roger Wakefield — Brianna’s love interest and eventual husband — in 2016. He starred in three seasons of a sketch comedy show titledBurnistoun, as well as the BBC’s dramatic mini-seriesThirteen.
His natural knack for making people laugh has led him to be labeled the “cast comedian.”
“I’m not sure how well received it is all of the time, especially when people are tired. It’s been a tough shift and I’m still dancing around at the end of the day in high spirits and generally being a bit of a goofball,” he toldThe Heraldin 2020. “I would say that is my role among the cast, clowning around, although within reason. I still do my job and like to think I am good to work with.”
Rankin is also a professional photographer. OnInstagram, he regularly shares stunning landscapes and cast portraits captured on the set ofOutlander.
John Bell as Ian Murray
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He’s best known as “Young Ian” Murray onOutlander, but John Bell, 25, is also the actor who portrayed Bain inThe Hobbitfilm series.
Bell made his first appearance inOutlandermidway through season 3.
At the end of season 4, Ian agrees to stay with the Mohawk Tribe in exchange for Roger Wakefield’s freedom. His character’s immersion into Indian culture required Bell to learn the tribe’s language and shave his head.
“Immediately, I was in touch with the Mohawk language preservation society, which is the biggest course you can do. As well as that, there were elders that came from America and Canada to work with me,” he shared. “The best way to understand someone’s culture is to be able to speak their language, so I think it was important to Ian. It was important to me.”
In a season 6 flashback, viewers watch the Mohawk women ceremoniously pull Ian’s long locks from his head — creating the tribe’s traditional warrior hairstyle. Bell, during an interview withStarz, revealed that his mohawk is actually a wig.
“This is not my real hair. Underneath this, I am bald for most of the year,” he said.
Graham McTavish as Dougal MacKenzie
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Graham McTavish, 62, has had a long and successful acting career. Prior toOutlander, he voiced dozens of video games and portrayed the great warrior Dwalin inThe Hobbitfilm series.
Off-screen, McTavish and Heughan have become good pals. They’ve gone on to filmMen in Kiltsand co-write three books together.
Maria Doyle Kennedy as Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron
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Irish singer and actress Maria Doyle Kennedy, 58, plays another of Jamie’s relatives inOutlander.Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron is Jamie’s wealthy aunt and Dougal’s younger sister who lives at River Run — a fictional plantation in North Carolina.
During aninterview withE!,Kennedy described what it’s like to play a blind character.
“I didn’t really comprehend what it would mean to me until the very first scene, and I realized that I was never going to be able to make eye contact with anybody,” she said. “In life, we give all our cues with our eyes, we take all our cues [with our eyes]. It was extraordinarily isolating.”
Aside fromOutlander, Kennedy is best known for her roles inThe TudorsandOrphan Black.
Lauren Lyle as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser
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Lauren Lyle, 29, is best known for her role as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser, who was introduced toOutlanderfans in season 3. Marsali is the daughter of Laoghaire MacKenzie — the woman Jamie wed while he and Clarie were apart for 20 years.
Before moving to the New World with Jamie and Claire, Marsali married Fergus Fraser. The couple went on to welcome four children.
César Domboy as Fergus Claudel Fraser
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French actor César Domboy, 33, plays Fergus Claudel Fraser, who is married to Marsali and is like a son to Jamie.
“That makes everything more complicated. I had to learn to manage that, but it does not limit Fergus. He can still do everything!” Domboy toldElle.
David Berry as Lord John Grey
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Lotte Verbeek as Geillis Duncan
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Verbeek will reprise her role as Geillis in season 7, and will likely be seen in flashbacks with Dougal.
source: people.com
