Back in 2013, Caitríona Balfe was living in Los Angeles, winning just enough small acting roles to believe that it wasn’t yet time to return home to Dublin (or to resume her career as a model for Chanel and Louis Vuitton). But it was “all very precarious” and her income so capricious that her sister had to lend her £5,000. Then, out of the blue, came the call that would change the 34-year-old’s life: the offer to play former Second World War military nurse Claire Fraser in Outlander.
At the same time Balfe was accepting loans, Sam Heughan was making a name for himself in theatre alongside small roles in Homeland and a long stint in Doctors. In his mid-20s, he’d auditioned for Bond, losing out to Daniel Craig – apparently he was told he wasn’t charismatic enough. By 2013, Heughan was 33 and working in a bar in London. After an unsuccessful stint in LA, he was also thinking it was time to give up the acting dream.
When author Diana Gabaldon started writing the Outlander novels in the late 80s, she could never have imagined the series – there are nine novels, with a 10th and likely final book in the works – would sell more than 50 million copies. Or that the small-screen adaptation would break records – it was one of the most viewed programmes in the world last year. The TV series inspires such fervent fandom that when Radio Times ran an online poll for our “TV Champion” contest in 2015, Heughan was the clear winner after securing 16.5 million votes (when he was presented with the trophy, he joked that his mum was responsible for at least half of them).
Balfe’s most bizarre experience took place in Iceland. “I was naked in the changing rooms at the Blue Lagoon, and these two women approached me, apparently oblivious to the fact that I wasn’t wearing any clothes. They just stood there and had a full conversation with me about Outlander.” Sam pulls a “glad it wasn’t me” face and adds, “I have to admit that it’s slightly odd when people take photos of me when I’m asleep on a plane or whatever.”
“It’s so hard to please everyone,” says Balfe. “But we’ve tried to stay true to the characters and hopefully fans will respond positively to that.”
Heughan looks slightly embarrassed. “Well, I asked for and was given a full Jamie Fraser outfit, which my costume person put on a mannequin. I was like, ‘Is this a bit of a weird thing to have in my house?’” Balfe laughs. But there’s more. “I also stole a couple of other costume things,” continues Heughan. “I was asked if I had them and I said no. Then I came home after a period away and my whole house was infested with moths! I think you could call it karma.” Balfe is laughing harder now. “Sam, that’s insane!”
“It’s so much safer for the cast and the crew,” says Heughan. “Vanessa found ways for Caitríona and I to show intimacy that wasn’t just gratuitous, but that illustrated the deepening of our characters’ intimacy with each other.”
That’s one learning point – but if Heughan and Balfe could time travel back to 2013, is there anything else they’d tell their younger selves? They shake their heads in unison. “We were naive,” says Heughan. “And a bit discombobulated,” adds Balfe. “We certainly weren’t aware of what was ahead of us, or we might have been more nervous,” says Heughan. “But I can’t think of any advicethat would change the experience for the better.”
What, then, will they both be doing now that they are free of the commitment to Outlander, which could take up to 12 months to shoot? “Sleep!” says Heughan. “Enjoy the fact that a film can be shot in as little as four weeks!” says Balfe, who managed to fit in the Kenneth Branagh film Belfast while shooting Outlander, earning herself best supporting actress nominations for a Bafta and aGolden Globe.
That’s debatable: her forthcoming projects include A Long Winter, Andrew Haigh’s adaptation of the Colm Tóibín novella (“Andrew is an incredible filmmaker; maybe I mentally stalked him to try and manifest a role in one of his films”) and Sense and Sensibility, in which she will play Mrs Dashwood (“I didn’t want to do another period drama for a while, but Georgia Oakley, the director, has a unique perspective – plus Daisy Edgar-Jones is playing one of my daughters!”).
Heughan, meanwhile, is filming Embassy, a six-part political thriller with JK Simmons and Anna Kendrick. But don’t expect the 46-year-old to take another shot at playing 007 in Denis Villeneuve’s new Bond movies. “I think that moment has passed. I’m too old! Maybe I can play Bond’s dad.” Balfe nudges him. “What about a Bond villain? You could go toe-to-toe with 007. You’re good at fighty-fighty.” Heughan grins. “I’d love that. I’m always available, Denis.”
Hence then, the article about our final journey was published today ( ) and is available on Radio Times ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Our final journey )
Also on site :