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From former model and rising star, Irish star Caitríona Balfe was catapulted into the spotlight for her portrayal of time traveller Claire Fraser in Outlander.
Balfe, 44, has been nominated for countless awards for the Starz series with the actress best known for the part. However, the journey to casting Claire was anything easy.
As Outlander marks a decade since it first started filming, Daily Express looks back at how the show initially came together.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Express, Outlander’s legendary casting director Suzanne Smith, who has also worked on Band of Brothers, Carnival Row and Good Omens, among many other films and TV shows, shed light on how Balfe ended up playing Claire.
While Sam Heughan’s casting was a breeze, Balfe’s own path to become the show’s narrator and lead was anything but easy and the star was one of the last ones to be cast weeks before filming was due to start.
READ MORE: Outlander creative details how Tobias Menzies won Captain Black Jack role
At the time, Balfe was something of an unknown after roles in The Beauty Inside and H+.
Smith said: “It was a very, very long search and as you know and as the fans know, she was definitely the last to audition and be up.
“Again we searched worldwide, her agent had sent an audition and I left it on my desktop.”
The casting director gave some notes and Balfe re-shot the tape with the star winning Smith and the producers over.
Balfe was quickly put up for a chemistry read with Heughan in LA and sealed the deal for the actress.
Smith reflected: “Sometimes it’s the first and sometimes it’s the last and the stars aligned. Casting is such an interesting job because I know the fans – they always say who they like, who they envisage in the role because the books are so vivid and when you read things you do imagine who’s playing the roles and who you see.
“I always find it quite interesting who they think should be the roles because it doesn’t always work that way because actors are not always available, have the money for them, big, big stars, so it was so lucky.
“They did the chemistry read and the chemistry was there – that was the most important thing, especially when it’s a love story, is to have that chemistry between our leads. And they’re such good friends.”
Smith added: “I can’t believe we’ve done seven seasons, it’s amazing and we’re going to do an eighth.”
Since finding fame on Outlander, Balfe’s career has flourished with the star winning critical acclaim in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Oscar-winning film Belfast and Le Mans ’66, which also took home Academy Awards.
Both she and Heughan have also stepped up to become executive producers on Outlander.
Balfe has even taken to the director’s chair for the second half of season seven, part two to helm episodes.
Moreover, she will again be donning the mantle of director for the eighth and final instalment, balancing it with her responsibilities as dual lead.
Outlander seasons 1-7 are available to stream on Starz in the USA and on Lionsgate+ in the UK
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Source: NewsFinale
