Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan talk filming 4 alternative endings: “It’s so hard to please everyone…”

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I remember hearing about Caitríona Balfe back in 2013. She was in LA, scraping by with little acting jobs, and just hoping it was enough to keep her from having to move back to Dublin. She’d even done modeling for huge brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton before, but things were really unstable financially – she actually had to borrow £5,000 from her sister! Then, completely out of nowhere, she got the call about Outlander. It was the role of Claire Fraser, a WWII nurse, and it totally changed her life. She was 34 at the time, and it was incredible to watch her career take off.

The show centers on Claire, who travels back in time from 1945 to 1743 and finds love with Highland warrior Jamie. Throughout the eight seasons, they fight to remain together, making the casting of Jamie just as crucial as finding the perfect actress to play Claire.

While Robert Balfe was taking out loans, Sam Heughan was building his acting career with stage work and small parts in shows like Homeland and Doctors. Earlier in his 20s, he’d even auditioned for the role of James Bond, but didn’t get the part – reportedly, he was told he lacked the necessary charisma. By 2013, at age 33, Heughan found himself working as a bartender in London and considering giving up on acting after a failed attempt to find success in Los Angeles.

He then received an audition request for the role of Jamie Fraser in Outlander, which offered him the exciting prospect of filming in Scotland, his home country, and demonstrating his on-screen charisma.

Diana Gabaldon began writing the Outlander novels in the late 1980s, and she never anticipated the incredible success the series would achieve. Now consisting of nine books with a tenth and final one planned, the novels have sold over 50 million copies. Furthermore, the television adaptation has become a global hit, ranking among the most-watched shows worldwide last year.

The show has a remarkably dedicated fanbase. In 2015, when TopMob held an online contest to find the “TV Champion,” Sam Heughan won by a landslide, receiving 16.5 million votes. He jokingly credited his mother with at least half of those votes when he accepted the award.

As a huge fan myself, it’s no surprise to me how dedicated the Outlander fanbase is! Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe both have incredible stories about fans recognizing them even when they’re totally caught off guard. Sam’s met them everywhere – from South America to Kathmandu! It’s honestly wild to think people have been following the show and supporting them for over ten years. It’s amazing, really, to have that kind of loyal following.

Sam Heughan, best known for his role in ‘Outlander,’ had a particularly strange encounter while visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. He was completely naked in the changing room when two women approached and began talking to him as if nothing was unusual. He joked about the experience, and also admitted it feels odd when fans take pictures of him while he’s sleeping on planes or in other private moments.

With the final season nearing its conclusion, fans are eagerly anticipating how the story of Claire and Jamie will resolve. While Claire has the ability to travel through time, she can’t prevent the future, which includes Jamie’s eventual death. To meet fan expectations, the show’s creator, Matthew B. Roberts, has prepared and filmed four different possible endings. However, stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan claim they don’t know which one will ultimately be chosen.

“It’s nearly impossible to make everyone happy,” Balfe explains. “But we focused on being faithful to the characters, and we hope fans appreciate that.”

I wondered if either of them had taken anything home from the set – a souvenir, even by mistake – and braced myself for a lie or a story about a single treasured item. Balfe quickly responded, explaining she’d asked for one of the wedding rings used on set. She joked that, having been married so many times during filming, she needed to keep track of them!

Sam Heughan seemed a little embarrassed as he admitted he’d asked for and received a complete Jamie Fraser costume, which he displayed on a mannequin. He joked about whether it was strange to have at home. Caitríona Balfe laughed, and Heughan added that he’d also taken a few other pieces of clothing from the set.

I was asked if I had any moths, and I told them I didn’t. But then, after being away for a while, I came home to find my house completely overrun with them! It felt like some sort of cosmic payback. Honestly, it’s ridiculous!” Balfe said, still laughing.

I was chatting with Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe back in 2022 for RT, and Sam told me something really interesting. He’d asked Vanessa Coffey, who used to be his drama teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, to join the show as their intimacy coordinator starting with season six. Given that Outlander features quite a few intimate scenes, both Sam and Caitríona have really appreciated having her guidance on set ever since.

Sam Heughan explains that the new approach was much safer for everyone working on the show. He credits Vanessa for finding ways to portray the growing connection between his character and Caitríona Balfe’s in a meaningful way, avoiding unnecessary or exploitative scenes.

Balfe understands the challenges. She explains that the early intimate scenes required a lot from both her and her co-star, and weren’t always comfortable, even with a strong level of trust between them. She notes it’s difficult when actors are asked to perform something they’re unsure about, especially if the production team doesn’t clearly communicate their expectations. Having someone like Vanessa present as an objective intermediary helped minimize misunderstandings.

You know, thinking back to when Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe first started working on Outlander in 2013, it’s funny to consider what they’d tell their younger selves if they could. They both agree they were pretty clueless back then – a little naive and definitely unprepared for what was coming! They weren’t sure what the show would become, and honestly, they don’t think any advice would have actually improved the experience. It was a wild ride, and they wouldn’t trade it, even with all the craziness!

Now that they’ve finished filming Outlander, which often took a full year, both actors are looking forward to some rest. “Sleep!” jokes Heughan. Balfe adds that she’s excited about the fact that movies can be filmed much faster – she was able to appear in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast while still working on Outlander, and even received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for her performance.

Whether or not she’s actively seeking out roles is up for discussion, but her upcoming work includes ‘A Long Winter,’ a film directed by Andrew Haigh (whom she admires and has been hoping to work with), and a new adaptation of ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ where she’ll play Mrs. Dashwood. She initially hesitated to take on another historical drama, but was drawn in by director Georgia Oakley’s fresh approach and the opportunity to act alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, who will play her on-screen daughter.

Sam Heughan is currently filming a six-episode political thriller called ‘Embassy’ alongside JK Simmons and Anna Kendrick. However, he doesn’t think he’ll be considered for the role of James Bond in the upcoming films. ‘I think that opportunity has passed, and I’m probably too old now,’ he joked, suggesting he might be better suited to play Bond’s father. Caitríona Balfe playfully suggested he could play a Bond villain instead, someone who could really challenge 007, noting his skill in action scenes. Heughan enthusiastically agreed, adding with a grin, ‘I’m available, Denis!’

Authors

Amy Raphael

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2026-05-11 19:45