Interview with Sam Heughan for Outlander

15 June 2017

How does history impact the character of Jamie?
Outlander is obviously set in 1743 and Jamie is a man of the time.  And that's kind of the whole story there, that he's constantly battling with Claire's very modern ideas on morals and on how things are conducted in the times. So Jamie's a man of the time, he's been brought up in, you know, quite a strong upbringing.  But he's also very forward-thinking and I think we have so many scenes in the show where basically they are always battling each other, Jamie thinks she should act in one way and she thinks she should act in another. And there's normally a point where they come together, or Jamie's just, beat into submission and does what she says [laughing].  

How would you describe Jamie? How would you describe him to someone who didn't know him?
Jamie is a very loyal man.  He's a man of his time.  Yet he's very forward thinking.  He's been brought up a certain way, you know, in the 1700s they had their own moral values; they had their own way of disciplining people; but yet he has actually traveled a lot and so he's very forward thinking.  And I think that's the relationship he has with Claire that even though he's a man of his time and has a certain way of living, she teaches him to be slightly more modern and to live we live now. And he also teaches her.  It's that sort of relationship.  They teach each other.  And he's a man of many layers.  He is very careful, but at times can be also, quite rash.  So he's got many layers to him.

What do you think Jamie’s main motivations are?  What drives his decision making?  And how does that evolve as the story goes - at least this first book?
When we first meet Jamie, I feel he's kind of lost.  He has just returned from France where he's been for quite a period of time, and he's been fighting on the border there, part of the army; and he’s lived a lot.  And he comes back an outlaw, so he can't go home, so he has no place to call his home. And even coming back to Leoch is not a joyful time for him because there’s danger there, there's the whole friction with himself and Colum and Dougal.  So he's kind of displaced and what happens is that when he meets Claire and they get married, she gives him some security.  Unfortunately, that drives a lot of decision making. It revolves around Claire a lot, and she gives him purpose.

Can you discuss the physical chemistry between the two characters (Jamie and Claire)?
Well, in the series we stick very close to what's in the books, and they're very physical.  And there is a lot of lovemaking, there's a lot of sex, but it's there in the books.  And I think it's a really important part of their relationship.  Jamie's 22 when we first meet him, and he's a virgin. He's had a little bit of luck with the ladies, but, he's certainly not that experienced. And she's a married woman and knows herself, she's a very strong character.  And so in that relationship they discover each other.  

Talk about Claire’s sensibility as a modern woman in the 1700s.
Claire is a modern woman that goes back in time.  And I think, firstly, that she's kind of the viewer.  The viewer will see everything through Claire's eyes.  So through that, when she gets thrust into this world where they speak a foreign language, it's an alien world to her, and to the viewer it will be as well.  And over time she gets to learn their ways, as will the viewer.  And I think, if it were any other woman, they might not cope as well.

Can you discuss the love triangle from Jamie’s perspective?

Obviously he doesn't know about that for a while, but once he does discover that, can you take us through the process of how he kind of processes that in his head?
Jamie's in the love triangle with Claire and Frank.  I mean, I almost think there are sort of two triangles, or maybe it's a quadrangle, or a square.  It's an interesting place.  I mean, he obviously loves Claire, and quite quickly falls for her.  I wouldn't say it's love at first sight, but it's a very quick process.  He's always very aware of Frank, Claire's husband, which is the future, but he believes it's her ex-husband. He’s a gentleman and he doesn't pry into that.  But he's aware that she had this love and he doesn't want to compete with him.  And, he thinks he must've been a good person [because] if Claire was married to him, then he must've been a good man.  

How is it working with Caitriona [Balfe], how have you gotten to know her, and what's it like working together?
The first time I met Caitriona [Balfe] was in her screen test.  We’d seen a lot of other actresses to play the part, and they were very good and fantastic.  But as soon as she came in, you could tell there was something about her, and I think all the producers sat up.  The scenes just went really well in our screen test, and I remember at one point having her in a bear hug, like, sort of we were face-to-face in this really passionate scene, arguing with each other. And I thought, oh, I've really, really upset her here.  She's really angry at me. And I thought this was great.  And she was giving as much as I was giving her; and as she left all the producers kind of looked at each other and I could tell that they really liked her.  She was wearing a great dress as well, it was really good, it was a slight tartan, but yet also a sort of 1920s look to it. So she did a great job.  And, to be honest, working with her has just been a joy.  She's so easygoing. The whole crew loves her, she's just easy to get on with, creative, intelligent, and pretty good-looking, too.

Can you talk to us about Scotland as a character in the story? What is it like shooting there and what is your favorite location?
As a Scotsman I was delighted that, A, I got the job; and B, that we're actually filming in Scotland.  The show could've gone somewhere else, it could've gone to another country, and I think filming here means that we just bring so much authenticity to the show.  The majority of the crew is Scottish, from the craftsmen involved, the set-makers, the armorers, the people that make the wool for the costumes, the designs on the costumes; from the caterers, to those involved in designing the sets. Everyone has a sense of what Scotland is.  

Also, the locations here have been truly magnificent. I have a great love for Scotland and it's just a joy to bring this to the world.  And hopefully, if you never get to visit Scotland, at least you get to see, a part of it. So I believe Scotland is certainly another character in the show.  When you read the books I think this is not only a love story between Jamie and Claire; I think Diana [Gabaldon] has also written a love story to Scotland.  I think she's fallen in love with the place.