EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CAITRIONA BALFE & SAM HEUGHAN ON “OUTLANDER”

By Abbie Bernstein On August 19, 2014 In Actor Interviews, Science Fiction & Fantasy Actor and Author Interviews No Comments

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan – pronounced, he says, “You-khan” – star in Starz’s new series OUTLANDER, which premieres on the premium cable network Saturday, August 9. Adapted for television by Ronald D. Moore from Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novels, OUTLANDER introduces us to Claire Randall (Balfe), an English Army nurse in World War II. When Claire goes to examine a stone circle, she falls through and finds herself in eighteen-century Scotland, where she meets Jamie Fraser (Heughan), who proves a kindred spirit, despite their many differences.

Heughan and Balfe have just completed a question-and-answer session, alongside Gabaldon and Moore, for the Television Critics Association press tour. During the session, the two actors share recollections of filming on location in Scotland.

“We were so lucky with weather most of the time,” Balfe says. “We had this incredible cold, because it’s Scotland, but incredibly bright, sunny days and we were up in a certain place called Loch Rannoch, and we shot some of the standing stone stuff, and it was this really strange thing. There’s a point where Claire hears a noise, and the wind would just whip up every time I went to do this certain point in the scene, and the hairs on my arm would stand up. It just felt like there was something there, you know?”

“Every time they’d do your close-ups, it was sunny, and every time it was mine, it rains,” Heughan points out.

“It’s true,” Balfe agrees.

“My Scottish roots coming through,” Heughan observes. “But it feels like Scotland. This is a romance between [the characters], but it also feels [like Gabaldon’s] books are sort of a romance novel to Scotland, and I think the fact that we’re filming there, it’s such a beautiful landscape, we’re so lucky to have all these great places to film, and it’s so authentic and some of the shots have been truly amazing.”

Balfe and Heughan will be mobbed by adoring fans at various appearances and they will make it to Comic-Con in due course. However, just at this moment, they’re waiting at the edge of the stage in the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton’s main ballroom to find out where they’re supposed to go next and therefore have a few minutes to talk for some follow-up questions after the panel.

OUTLANDER is the first major series for both actors. “We’re very excited to be in this,” Heughan says. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, Heughan previously appeared in a number of U.K. productions, including twenty-one episodes of the series DOCTORS.

Balfe originally hails from Ireland. She’s appeared in numerous projects, including last year’s feature film NOW YOU SEE ME and the science-fiction Web series H+. She says she hadn’t read any of the OUTLANDER books before she became involved with the show. “I hadn’t heard of it before I got the audition, but as soon as I had my first audition, I then went and got the book and read it before we tested and fell in love with Claire straight away.”

There were “chemistry reads” between Heughan and the actresses auditioning for Claire, Balfe relates. “Sam was cast first, cast about four months before I was. I think he chemistry-tested with quite a lot of actresses.”

“I was very lucky, too,” Heughan adds with a laugh. “As soon as Catriona left the room, I think there was a common consensus. Everyone looked at each other and we knew that she was the one. She’s just perfect. She’s a great actress and blew us all away.”

Are there any key scenes the actors are either especially looking forward to or worried about filming? “I wouldn’t say ‘worried about,’” Balfe laughs. “I’m looking forward to killing the wolf. She battles a wolf at some point and I really want to see what we do with that, but I’m excited.”

Heughan says, “There are so many strong points in the story – there are so many great moments where I rescue,” he indicates his costar and this time both laugh. “There are some great moments with Jack, there are so many in the books that everyone knows that I think it’s just going to be a ride, the whole thing is going to be fun to film.”
In the books, Jamie has a very strong bond with his horse Donas. At the time of this interview, it was possible they’d had to do a chemistry ride, according to Heughan. “We actually haven’t got a Donas just yet, but I’m looking forward to it. We’ve had to learn a lot of riding for the show and we’re really enjoying it, aren’t we?”

There seems to be more to this comment than is immediately evident to an outsider. “Yes,” Balfe concurs.

“There’s a little bit of a battle going on between myself and Cat about my horse at the moment,” Heughan explains. “He’s called Sweetpea and she keeps giving him mints and he’s beginning to …” He trails off.

“He likes me better,” Balfe explains.

“Yeah, he likes her better,” Heughan acknowledges.

What sorts of things have Balfe and Heughan had to learn in order to play their characters?

“Well, for me,” Balfe says, “Claire is a nurse. I had to learn how to relocate a shoulder – she’s very into her herbs and her bottles, so I’ve had to learn quite a lot about that. It’s been really exciting, actually.”

“Yeah,” Heughan agrees. “And physically, I had to put on quite a lot of weight for Jamie, we had to do a lot of sword-fighting, horse-riding, we had to learn Gaelic for the show, as well. So it’s been quite a stretch for both of us.”

What else would the actors like people to know about OUTLANDER right now? “I think this is an incredibly rich story,” Balfe says. “You have this really strong female character, these incredible male characters and what I love about it is, there’s so much conflict within everybody. No character is one-dimensional. They’re really, really complex and rich characters, and I think that’s something that’s really interesting.”

There’s a great deal that Heughan would like to relate, but it’s time for the two actors to head to their next destination. “There’s so much about the show, I think,” he concludes. “People will want to watch it, if you’re a fan of the books or if you’re not, I think when you watch the show, you’re going to become a fan. There really is a whole world there and I think we’ve done it justice.”

By Abbie Bernstein