When it comes to translating a beloved series of books to television, there is a lot of pressure on castmembers to do justice to the character they are portraying. Thankfully, Outlander fans didn’t have to worry for long, thanks in large part to Caitriona Balfe. If you don’t already know, Balfe plays Claire Fraser, Outlander’s leading woman.
Claire Fraser is a complex character who experiences so many facets of humanity in just a few short seasons: passion, extreme loss, overcoming unimaginable obstacles, numbing grief, motherhood, finding one’s calling, the nuances of aging, and so much more. Balfe has not only captured the delicate mannerisms and traits that make Claire so lovable but has also painted a realistic, telling portrait of what it means to be human.
Here are ten of Balfe’s best quotes about her experience working on Outlander and what it is like to bring Claire Fraser to life.
On Claire and Jamie Being Survivors
When asked about how Jamie and Claire change in the decades-long span of time they are forced to spend apart, Sam Heughan discusses that Jamie is no longer a whole person. Because of this, he is forced to rebuild his life and find a new definition of himself. Regarding Claire, Balfe had this to say:
“I think what I love about her [Claire] is that she is a survivor, so even though there’s a part of her that has been shelved – her heart is definitely hardened and broken – but that she does figure out a way to create a successful life. That’s important about both these characters: Even though this relationship and this love that they experienced are bigger than any of us could hope to have, I suppose, that they don’t make it their single defining characteristic. To honor that relationship and the people that they are, they make the best of the lives they have.”
On Immersing Herself in the Character
Due to the complex subject matter and long filming days, so much of Caitriona’s early life on Outlander was focused on becoming Claire. She stressed this all-consuming hard work in an interview with The Irish Times:
“I think that complete immersion in the character and not having any sort of life outside of it was probably one of the greatest things that could have happened, because I got to know that character…And it’s memories as well. What is a person or a character but a series of memories and experiences? So you know, at this point, I have such a bank of who Claire is already in me because I’ve lived through it and been through it in scenes and all those moments. It’s such a great foundation.”
On What She Loves About Claire
There is so much to love about Claire Fraser. She’s a beautiful balance of traits: strength and vulnerability, healer and fighter, empathetic and strong-willed. Here’s what Balfe had to say about Claire in a 2018 interview with Parade:
“Her empathy and her ability to connect with people and understand the difference of right and wrong and where justice should be—that’s all of the stuff I love about her. And her capacity for loving and living and even fighting so immensely. She has such an immense capacity for feeling, and that’s such an incredible thing to be able to play.”
On Filming Empowering Scenes
One thing Outlander is consistently praised for is its empowering treatment of women and the picture of what genuine intimacy looks like between two people in love. One such scene happened between Jamie and Claire in season two — a season full of challenges that create emotional distance between the couple — while Claire is pregnant. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Balfe discusses how important the scene was:
“Sam and I fought to keep the belly bump in — I think there was some worry about whether or not you could see the prosthetic — because yeah, you don’t see that! And why don’t you see that in a sex scene? Why should that be a taboo? You see so many boobs all over the bloody TV. It’s the one safe space for them in this time where they’re kind of estranged from each other, and they’ve been struggling with their intimacy — and the fact that this is what brings them together, this unit of a family that they’ve become … I think it’s a very sexy thing.”
On The Meaning of Home
Much of Claire’s character centers around the notion of “home.” According to Balfe, Claire’s home goes beyond four walls:
“I think, definitely, for Claire, home is her life with Jamie. Whereas Jamie was always connected to Scotland and that was his home, Claire has always been trying to find out what home means to her. She has always felt untethered. It is only when she meets Jamie that she really has that anchor. Then Brianna is the product of that and, therefore, these people are her home.”
This quote provides some great insight into what drives Claire throughout Outlander, even as years pass following her last meeting with Jamie.
On Moving On After Loss
Over the course of four seasons, Outlander has showcased many different types of loss. In an interview with Variety, Balfe says its one of the most fascinating parts of human nature:
“How do people move on after they’ve lost the love of their life? It’s a really interesting thing to look at. It happens to people every day, you see people … even in the worst, most war-torn places, people get up and continue with their lives. And it’s a fascinating thing about human nature. That ability to just continue on. It’s amazing.”
Despite the fantastical time travel plot, Outlander is a story about humans dealing with relatable emotions like loss and love.
On the Evolution of Jamie and Claire’s Relationship
Balfe is always asked about the sexual relationship between Claire and Jamie, often by fans who want to see more of that side of them. However, as Balfe discusses in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the couple’s story spans decades. They experience growth as individuals and as a couple:
“We’ve done the falling in love. We’ve done the pining. We’ve done the reunion . . . you have to try to explore different facets of the relationship as you go forward. You really get to see this couple be able to enjoy each other’s company . . . the bliss of domesticity. They’re really supporting each other. They’re not on this cliffhanger of “will they, won’t they” anymore. It’s very different.”
On Representing a Healthy Relationship
As Jamie and Claire grow, their relationship matures and becomes a rare example of mutual respect and equality. Balfe breaks this down in an interview with The Herald:
“There is something about the equality of power in that relationship. You have two fully formed characters who are equals. They challenge each other, allow each other to grow and sometimes force each other to grow. I think that is what people respond to. It is an imperfect relationship, but because of that, it is sort of perfect. It is something that everyone can relate to. At the end of the day, they really support and care for one another. It does feel like they are soulmates.”
On Parts of the Books That Don’t Make It Into the Show
The Outlander books are long and rich with interwoven storylines and character development. Unfortunately, due to the nature of television, a lot of important material is often left off the screen. In an in-depth interview with the Los Angeles Times, Balfe touches on this:
“There’s some scenes I’m devastated we didn’t get to shoot,” she said. “There’s the scene where she’s working all day and Brianna gets hurt and she has to run home and she has all of that guilt. It’s so interesting to see a working mom in that late ’50s, early ’60s time — I was like, ‘What do you mean we’re not filming that? That’s so important to this character!’ We don’t have time to shoot everything. But I have that [knowledge] and you bring that into your performance throughout the rest of the scenes.”
On Why She Loves the Show
Fans love Outlander for more than Jamie and Claire’s passionate romance. We love it for the characters that mirror our own experiences and for the portrayal of love in all its forms. Balfe sums up the Outlander experience for many fans when she had this to say:
“One thing I love about it is it shows love is worth fighting for. I think that is something we explore continuously in the show.”
