Drums of Autumn, season 4, of our Outlander Droughtlander!
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New casting information provided by outCandor
Oliver Finnegan is Lord William
Urs Rechb is Gerhard Meuller
Kyle Ress is John Quincy Meyers
Trevor Carroll is Otter Tooth
Wesley French is Cheif Nawohali
Tom Jackson is Tehwahsehkwe
2 weeks out from premiere of episode 401, new trailer....
From news outlets
New season 4 promo shots
New casting information provided by outCandor
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| Phillip Wylie |
2 weeks out from premiere of episode 401, new trailer....
From news outlets
New season 4 promo shots
The Ew weekly news coverage of Outlander season 4!
Rik and Sophie reading fan tweets!
What the cast cannot live without while onset!
Promo for season 4!
The highland festival with Roger and Bree! From IGN FIRST
Episode titles so far....
Episode 402, “Do No Harm” – Writer Karen Campbell, Director Julian Holmes
Episode 403, “The False Bride” – Writer Jennifer Yale, Director Ben Bolt
Episode 404, “Common Ground” – Writer Joy Blake, Director Ben Bolt
Episode 405, “Savages” – Writer Bronwyn Garrity, Director Denise Di Novi
Episode 406, “Blood of My Blood” – Writer Shania Fewell, Director Denise Di Novi
Aunt Jocasta
New article from a news outlet....
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| Entertainment Weekly |
New season 4 promo photos.
New casting
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| Tatanoo Cardinal plays an indigenous role in season 4 of Outlander.. We all know her from Twilight and A River Runs Through It... |
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| Claire the healer! |
Matt Carter lists projections, and what we will see in production for Drums of Autumn
https://cartermatt.com/325748/outlander-season-4-projections-the-current-thematic-takeaways/
https://cartermatt.com/tag/outlander/
What should the PR for Outlander have done with the Bree and Roger story?
New promo, key art
(Behind 60 days out)
Outlander goes to NYC Comic Con. Our blog has press credentials and our group is going! Look for news from our panels!
The Outlander season 3 soundtrack by Bear Mccreary is out on vinyle..
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outlander-series-3-bear-mccreary/32127694?ean=0802215205610
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Starz announced the premiere date, November 4th 2018.....
“Silly Voices and Dress Ups” - Outlander actor Tim Downie discusses the acting life with your Aussie Blogging Lass
Outlander Homepage originals
Jamie and Claire Fraser have mixed success when their lives cross paths with figures of authority. Their relationship with Colum and Dougal, Laird and War Chief of Clan Mackenzie, was strained to say the least; Major John Grey proved to be a friend; while the less said about the notorious Black Jack Randall, the better. In season 4, the couple will again meet up with authority, in the form of Governor William Tryon, as portrayed by actor Tim Downie. While details of season 4 are still under wraps, we’ll have to wait and see how this relationship turns out, but in the meantime, Tim agreed to talk to Outlander Homepage about his own acting journey.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to be an actor, or at least to do something that involved telling stories,” Tim began. “I didn’t enjoy school. I was always the joker, the one that would make up tales, something which didn’t always go down well with teachers. I was immersed in books and in other worlds, which I think helped kick start my imagination. When I was a teenager I did a lot of improvisation classes. They helped me to be much more creative and to push boundaries. At sixteen I left my small village for London and drama school.”
Tim laughed as he recalled a more recent description of his vocation.
“My four year old says all I do is put on silly voices and play dress up,” he said, “which is probably the most accurate description of what I do!”
We wondered if there was a role that stood out amongst the many characters that Tim has played over the years. His choice came, rather surprisingly, from long before he was a well known actor.
“The part I look back on and still think about is the Sheriff of Nottingham in a production of Robin Hood when I was eight,” Tim replied. “I gave him a lisp, which, when you’re eight, is hilarious. I had a pivotal line about arresting Robin and sending him to the tower. But in my haste to be the funny one, I totally messed it up and ended up sending him to a bakery. I have absolutely no idea why a bakery, but Act Two, by rights, should have then started with Robin Hood chained to a wall of brioche and iced buns!”
With such a memorable beginning to his acting career, we wondered what characters Tim would still like to portray.
“I would adore to be in Mervyn Peake’s ‘Gormanghast’,” Tim replied. “I have loved the books ever since my father gave them to me when I left home for drama school. Along with Steerpike, I would love to play Lord Sepulchrave, Titus Groan’s father who goes mad when his beloved library burns down, and comes to believe he is a death-owl who lives in the Tower of Flints. Great stuff!”
Knowing as we do that Outlander is a little short on death-owls, we asked Tim how familiar he was with Diana Gabaldon’s series.
“I have only read the first two books,” Tim admitted, “which were kindly sent to me by @outmander. I have a lot of reading to catch up on!”
But if he could have his choice of the Outlander cast list, Tim knew what type of character he would choose.
“The baddies are always really fun to play, so I would have to go with the English officers,” he said. “They were just so unbelievably mean and cruel so I think it would be interesting to play that side of things. Also, red goes with my eyes, so it’s a win win really.”
Of course, he was joking, but for those who haven’t seen the colour of Tim’s eyes...
(
“They’re a boring hazel. A warm chestnut, if you will.”
Finally we asked Tim where he would like to go if he could travel through the stones.
“I think that if I could go through the stones, I would want to end up in 12th century Toledo, Spain,” Tim answered. “It was an epicentre of political turmoil, riddles, mystery, sorcerers, alchemy and magic. A melting pot of old Pagan belief mingled with Islamic and Jewish thought. Would be Wizards from all over Europe and the Middle East flocked there to learn the latest in magical theory and practice in the hope that a hidden world of untold knowledge and power would be revealed to them. Wondrous!”
Wondrous indeed. We’d like to thank Tim for sharing his thoughts with us and can’t wait for the first appearance of Governor Tryon later this year.
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. She’s not sure why, but she’d rather like to see a death- owl now...
“Loyal to the Laird” - an interview with Keith Fleming by your Aussie Blogging Lass
Outlander Homepage originals
The world of Outlander is famous for its couples. Across the 3 seasons that have screened so far, fans of the STARZ series have watched different duos interact with Jamie Fraser. Sometimes these relationships - like those with Colum & Dougal, or Rupert & Angus - have been stormy and complicated, while other characters, like Ross & Kincaid, show nothing but loyalty.
In season 3, after the horrors of the Battle of Culloden, a new pair of characters enters Jamie’s social circle: in the form of Lesley and Hayes. From fellow prisoners at Ardsmuir, to erstwhile smugglers in Edinburgh, to fellow crew on board the Artemis, Lesley and Hayes will do anything for Jamie. So what is it like to play one of these characters? Keith Fleming, aka Lesley, sat down to tell us.
The world of Outlander is famous for its couples. Across the 3 seasons that have screened so far, fans of the STARZ series have watched different duos interact with Jamie Fraser. Sometimes these relationships - like those with Colum & Dougal, or Rupert & Angus - have been stormy and complicated, while other characters, like Ross & Kincaid, show nothing but loyalty.
In season 3, after the horrors of the Battle of Culloden, a new pair of characters enters Jamie’s social circle: in the form of Lesley and Hayes. From fellow prisoners at Ardsmuir, to erstwhile smugglers in Edinburgh, to fellow crew on board the Artemis, Lesley and Hayes will do anything for Jamie. So what is it like to play one of these characters? Keith Fleming, aka Lesley, sat down to tell us.
While most actors in Outlander can go to Diana Gabaldon’s novels for their character research, Keith didn’t have that luxury. Lesley is a written-for-tv addition, so we wondered how Keith went about creating his character.
“Well the writers created Lesley really,” Keith replied, “but like any part, you bring yourself to what is written. On a basic level, a character is very much the sum of what they say and what they do. So you look at what is similar within you and what is different, asking yourself, ‘How can I change myself to suit the character?’ After that, it's about imagination and making sure that you serve the scene or story. It would be too simple to say that Lesley is a comic character. He is fiercely protective of Jamie, Claire and his pal, Hayes. He is brave and willing to get stuck in, always prepared to put himself in harm’s way for them.”
And how would Keith describe Lesley in just 3 words?
“Loyal, witty and earthy,” was his response.
So far, Outlander has traversed different countries and landscapes in order to tell its story. But is there such a thing as a “typical day” on set? We asked Keith if he could share his daily routine with us.
“Well, it starts with an early pick-up,” Keith said. “I’m running over lines in my head through the fog of sleep! When I arrive at the trailer, I put on my basic costume, then head to hair and make-up, where I share a wee chat with the girls to the back-drop of some great tunes. Once I receive my confirmed schedule for the day, I eat breakfast . Then I head onto set to rehearse the scene or run lines whilst the crew set up for the first shot. After that it’s back to wardrobe, hair and make-up for final checks.”
When we asked if there was a lot of specialist make-up for Lesley, Keith answered with the same quick wit that he attributed to his character.
“Of course, you realise that it takes a long time for me in make-up,” he joked, “as it takes a lot of effort to disguise my stunning looks. Before they start on me, you could be forgiven for thinking that Sam and I are twins!!!”
And once this amazing transformation is complete?
“Then we are ready to shoot,” Keith continued. “Hopefully we all know our lines, our intentions, the shape of the scene and the fight choreography, so that it all goes smoothly. Then it's a question of the director giving some feedback, before we do it again with different angles and set-ups. We try to make sure there is no corpsing (breaking character and laughing) before we have lunch and move on to the next scene.”
It certainly sounds like everyone is busy!
“The crew are amazing,” Keith agreed. “They work their socks off and look after you so much. They’re a brilliant team...a dream team! Finally it's a wrap, and I can get out of hair and make-up, pick up my schedule for the next day and head home.”
While there are plenty of dramatic scenes in season 3, Lesley and Hayes also appear in one of the funniest - when they encounter the disapproving, goitre-suffering Geordie in the print shop. We asked Keith if he could tell us a bit about that scene.
“Ahhhh yes, the famous print shop scene,” Keith replied, with a grin. “Obviously people mean the 'goitre' bit when they mention it,... surely!! Hahahaha! That scene was a gas. Lorne, the actor who played Geordie, had been given a note to make him more 'sassy'. He interpreted that as 'camper'. I nearly hurt myself trying not to laugh, or trying to make him laugh. I'm not sure if you can catch it, but when I'm looking at Lorne, I'm doing a wee pout. I figured that Lesley would certainly mock him and his prissy, acidic attitude.”
And was there any ad-libbing?
“No,” said Keith, “but perhaps there was the occasional natural reaction and response!”
With such a busy schedule, we asked Keith for his idea of a perfect day.
“A perfect day?” Keith repeated. “Wow, ok. It would begin with breakfast in either Jason Bakery or Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room. (These were two places we frequented in Cape Town.) Then it would be time for some football, watching the Hibs defeat the Jambos or Sevco. They are our main rivals and it’s always a joy to beat them! Next, I’d explore some secrets of the Rye with my pal, whilst sipping an Aviation or a glass of Nuits-Saint-Georges. I’d enjoy the company whilst listening to music - The Beatles, The Stones, or Stone Roses - and open a bottle of fizz. Last of all, I’d have some Chinese and round it off with the best drink of the day - a cup of tea!”
Finally, we asked Keith where he would choose to go if he could travel through the stones.
“I think I would probably go to the 60s,” he answered. “My musical taste is really embedded in that era. I’d love to experience Beatlemania, psychedelia, and that liberation of music, creativity and hope. The world is in such a bad state just now, we need a bit more of the ideology of peace and love. And as for the state of music these days, don't get me started! Obviously I would like to be right in the middle of it if I was back in the 60s, so I'd be a rock star. Maybe the band would be called ‘The Standing Stones’ and our first album would be the ‘Ardsmuir Prison Blues’!!”
Whilst time travelling is probably not on the agenda anytime soon, Keith did suggest another type of Outlander related journey.
“It would be good to get to some of the conventions,” he said, “so that I can meet you guys.”
That sounds like a job for the Outlander fans - so who’s up for a challenge? Let’s convince the powers-that-be to get Keith to a convention as soon as we can!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. She’d like to thank Keith for giving up his time and she would definitely buy a copy of the “Ardsmuir Prison Blues”!
Set up and blog layout by Dorianne Panich
News
Alec Newman will play Joseph Wemyss
Alec Newman will play Joseph Wemyss
Casting
Drums of Autumn season 4, 5 & 6...
Starz
Billy Boyd (above) will portray Gerald Forbes, a wealthy lawyer in Cross Creek who is friends with his prominent client, Jocasta Cameron (Maria Doyle Kennedy). Boyd is best known for Lord of the Rings; his other credits includeThe Flying Scotsman, Seed of Chucky, and An Urban Ghost Story.
Starz
Simona Brown pays Gayle, Brianna’s best friend and college roommate. Her TV credits include the new C4/Netflix series Kiss Me First. She was also in Roots for A&E.
Starz
Caitlin O’Ryan is Lizzie, a Scottish woman who goes on a big adventure with Brianna Fraser (Sophie Skelton), the daughter of Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe). O’Ryan is is a recent graduate from the Oxford School of Drama; this role marks her TV debut.
Starz
Natalie Simpson will take over as Phaedre, the personal maid and seamstress for Jocasta, and is considered a trusted member of the River Run household. Her TV credits include Les Miserables.
Kath Powell makes fantastic puzzle art for the rainy days you want to connect with Outlander!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006857686147
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| Have yourself a Jamie figurine! By Cryptozoic entertainment. |
Our very own Susie Brown, the Aussie blogging lass has been published. (Again) We have a link for all of her Ebooks on LuLu. Now that Droughtlander is in full swing, check out her artfully created stories to keep busy until the fall.
About Susie Brown
I wear a lot of different hats! I've written fiction and non-fiction for both children and adults, as well as many educational resources. I co-wrote a picture book, "Lone Pine", that was a notable book in the Children's Book Council of Australia Book Week Awards in 2013. Online, I write articles and reviews for the Outlander Homepage blog. I also work as a teacher-librarian in an Australian primary (elementary) school. I am inspired by many things: theatre, music, art, photography - and the simple pleasure of being able to spend time with the people I love. I am currently working on a picture book for children and a novel for young adults. I love to be creative!
Lulu link
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/siusaidh
"Son of Mac" interview with Clark Butler.
“As he is a little Lord, I thought he should be bossy,” Clark said. “Willie thinks he can boss everyone around and grown ups have to listen to him so I enjoyed doing that!”
“The giant house was lovely and standing outside pretending it was my house helped me imagine that I was a Lord, which was cool,” Clark said. “We filmed the Papist scene in a small dark real stable barn in the grounds.”
“Sam is a great guy,” he replied. “In fact, everyone was lovely and really looked after me.”
"Son of Mac" interview with Clark Butler.
Outlander Homepage originals by Susie Brown
“He’s spoilt and stubborn,” he said softly. “Ill-mannered. Loud. Wi’ a wicked temper.” He swallowed. “And braw and bonny and canty and strong,” he said, so softly I could barely hear him.
“He’s spoilt and stubborn,” he said softly. “Ill-mannered. Loud. Wi’ a wicked temper.” He swallowed. “And braw and bonny and canty and strong,” he said, so softly I could barely hear him.
“And yours,” I said. His hand tightened on mine, holding it against the soft stubble of his cheek.
“And mine,” he said.
(Voyager Chapter 59)
When Jamie Fraser speaks of his son in Diana Gabaldon’s third Outlander novel, the reader is left in no doubt as to the fierce pride he feels for the boy that he cannot raise as his own. In season 3 of the Starz series, viewers were able to witness this bond forming between the two characters, courtesy of the two actors who portray them, Sam Heughan and Clark Butler. So what was it like, as a young actor, to play such an important role? We were thrilled here at Outlander Homepage when Clark Butler agreed to tell us!
We began by asking Clark to give us his opinion of young Willie and wondered how he went about creating the role.
As for creating his character, Clark found his costume a useful starting point.
“The old fashioned clothes help to get into character,” he said, “but the jacket was itchy!”
Itching aside, Clark had a wonderful time on the set. “Being on set is fun,” he told us, before adding, “I did have to do school work in between scenes though!”
Location also helped with Clark’s character creation.
And while Scotland may be famous for its challenging weather, it didn’t phase the young Earl of Ellesmere in the slightest.
“Scotland was cold, but it was great,” Clark enthused. “It even snowed while I was there and I got to build a snowman outside the studio!”
On finer days, young William could be seen riding a horse in some scenes. We wondered whether riding came as easily to Clark as it did to the character he portrayed.
“The horse riding was kind of a challenge as I hadn't ridden a horse before,” Clark admitted, “so the first day I was taken to a horse riding place for lessons. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed it.”
As viewers know, the final scenes between Jamie and Willie are quite heartbreaking. When we asked how difficult it was to film these moments, Clark let us in on a little secret.
“Well, the last scene was actually the first one we filmed, so it was all new and exciting,” he explained. “Our director, Brendan, was very good at giving me instructions.”
As for his co-star, Sam Heughan, Clark had nothing but praise.
After such an amazing experience on Outlander, we asked Clark if he wanted to be an actor for the rest of his life. He explained that William is not his first foray into performing.
“I’ve done lots of modelling for Marks and Spencer online and for Harrods in their magazines and acting in their online mini films,” Clark told us. “I was even on the side of one of their vans eating an apple! I also played the role of the Candy King, in the Amazing Adventures of Super Stan, and have just been in We Will Rock you at school.”
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| Clark during his modelling shoot |
And in the future?
“I do enjoy acting so it would be good if I could be an actor,” Clark said, “but I know that you have to be lucky too. I'd also be happy being a scientist.”
While we have no doubt that he would make an excellent scientist one day, it certainly seems as if acting is the focus right now.
“I am in a short film called Cold Hill that hasn't been released yet,” Clark said, “and I am busy rehearsing for a musical called Made in Dagenham where I am playing the role of Graham. It's my first role that I will have a singing solo, which I'm nervous about but looking forward to.”
Finally we asked Clark which time period he would like to visit if he could travel through the stones.
“I'd like to go to 2600AD,” he answered, “to see what it will be like in the future.”
Perhaps, one day, scientist Clark will make that happen!
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| Clark at the Glasgow airport |
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. She’d like to thank Clark (and his family) for taking the time to answer our questions.
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| Joseph Wemyss will be played by Alec Newman |
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078XH1P6Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_a0iFAbCR6C1H4
Character, MacNeil, season 4.
Will be playing Andrew MacNeil
Also
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| Ainsley Jordon as Judith Wylie |
New release for the droughtlander effected
March 7th 2018
New photos of season 4 filming
Also
Sneak peek of season 4
Our interviews
"Mommy, who's that woman", an interview with Lauren Lyle, by Susie Brown, the Aussie blogging lass!
Outlander Homepage originals by Susie Brown
During season 3, Outlander devotees were introduced to the feisty character of Marsali McKimmie. Daughter of Laoghaire, step-daughter to Jamie, handfast (and later wed) to Fergus, Marsali knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. (In fact, she rather reminds us of everyone’s favourite Sassenach!) But what is it like to portray this independent Scottish lass? Luckily for Outlander Homepage, Lauren Lyle agreed to tell us!
During season 3, Outlander devotees were introduced to the feisty character of Marsali McKimmie. Daughter of Laoghaire, step-daughter to Jamie, handfast (and later wed) to Fergus, Marsali knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. (In fact, she rather reminds us of everyone’s favourite Sassenach!) But what is it like to portray this independent Scottish lass? Luckily for Outlander Homepage, Lauren Lyle agreed to tell us!
Interestingly, becoming an actress wasn’t necessarily fulfilling a childhood dream for Lauren.
“I lived abroad throughout my life,” she explained, “and it wasn’t until I left school that I decided I wanted to pursue acting as a career. I realised I could really do it when I moved to London. So I began working really hard, trying to meet as many like-minded people as possible. My background is in theatre and my first job was in ‘The Crucible’ at The Old Vic. Having not been to drama school, I decided to train with the National Youth Theatre Rep Company.”
But once her decision was made, the jobs started arrived - and not one at a time, either!
“When I landed ‘Outlander’, I also landed a BBC Drama called ‘Broken’ within the same three weeks,” Lauren said. “It all kicked off from there!”
So how does a typical day on the Outlander set begin?
“With coffee!” Lauren answered. “Then I’m normally first in hair and make up as I’ve got so much hair and we don’t use a wig for me. After that, I’m corseted up and taken down to rehearsals for whatever the scene is that day.”
As fans of the show know, there are no shortage of dramatic scenes to film, but Lauren told us that there is always plenty of fun as well - even with the early starts.
“We normally have a bleary-eyed giggle through and discuss what we want from the scene,” Lauren said. “Then we work fairly non stop until the evening. I love it when there are a group of us in a scene together. Sam and I normally crack up constantly and Cait is such a powerhouse.”
And how would Lauren describe her alter ego?
“Loyal, determined and brave,” she replied.
Since many of Marsali’s scenes take place on board, we asked Lauren what it was like working on the ships - did she find her sea legs, or did she suffer Jamie’s fate?
“The ships were really special,” Lauren said. “It was impossible not to feel a part of the world we were creating when the details of the ships were so intricate. The fact that they functioned with a working crew was incredible too. The crew were so generous at teaching us how to work all the elements on board. As for being seasick, I was initially a bit nauseous but quickly got used to it!”
Shortly after Lauren was cast and photos with her on-screen mother, Nell Hudson, began appearing on social media, many fans commented on the strong physical resemblance between the two women. But did they create a mother-daughter bond as well?
“Nell was the first person from the cast that I met,” Lauren told us. “At the first read through, she was so welcoming and she gave me the whole Outlander lowdown. We immediately got on and we’ve become great friends since. It’s very helpful living down the road from each other as well!”
Lauren enjoys a similarly close relationship with her on-screen husband, Cesar Domboy.
“Cesar and I have a great bond,” Lauren said. “We work very naturally in tune together. It’s important - and amazing - to have evolved to that point already. We really care how the other one feels about the way the whole Marsali/Fergus relationship is forming. We will always be in discussion about their life. Being good friends and always laughing makes working together the best!”
Finally, we asked Lauren where she would choose to travel to if she could go through the stones herself.
“Probably the end of the 1960s, heading into the start of the 70s,” she answered. “The boom in arts culture and music looked wild. Or then again, perhaps the very beginning of time? I’d take a camera to discover how it all actually began!”
We’d like to thank Lauren for giving up her time to chat with us and wish her lots more laughs and fun times as filming continues!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher librarian and writer who lives in Australia. She can’t wait to see more of Marsali in season 4 and beyond!
Main casting so far.
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| Colin McFarlane is our Ulysses |
EW mag has exclusive intel..
http://ew.com/tv/2018/01/05/outlander-ulysses-casting/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Season 4 preview
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Season 3 Voyager
Droughtlander Season Three
Our last pre season interview is with Wil johnson.. A wonderful person, who I met in NYC and had the pleasure in hosting at our Outlander in the city dinner event....
Is there a Doctor in house
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
After her emotional return through the stones before the battle of Culloden, Claire Fraser spent years trying to find a way to live without the love of her life. As she trained to become a doctor, she finally found an ally in Joe Abernathy. Two “fish out of water” - she as the only female intern and he as the only black intern - Joe and Claire became close friends and it was to Joe that Claire turned for advice and support. The appearance of Dr Abernathy is one that is hotly anticipated by fans awaiting the premiere of season 3 and luckily for us, actor Wil Johnson, the man who will bring him to life, agreed to talk to us here at Outlander Homepage.
We began by asking Wil how he became an actor and were surprised to find that it happened entirely by chance!
“At school I was never into acting at all, to be honest,” Wil explained, “but I had to do it as a compulsory subject. One day, a school play was being mounted and the lead actor dropped out, so my drama teacher asked me if I would be prepared to step into the lead role. At first I refused, but then I found out that the leading lady was a girl I quite fancied and wanted to ask out. So immediately I volunteered my services - with an ulterior motive, of course!”
So did it work?
“No!” laughed Wil. “I didn't get the girl BUT I got something far more important. I found my vocation. At 16 years old, I knew I wanted to become an actor.”
Bit parts on television soon led to longer appearances and named characters, as well as featured roles in films and on stage. With such a range of experiences, we wondered if Wil had a favourite medium or a preferred role.
“Theatre, television and film all offer their own unique challenges and I relish each and every one of them,” Wil replied, “so I don't have a preference - apart for the preference of 'the next challenge'. I don't have a standout role in my repertoire either, because each role I commit to I give 100% and then some. As a result, I am satisfied with the end result of all of the roles I have inhabited over the years.”
And what about his latest role? We asked Wil to tell us how he came to join the Outlander family.
“The process for auditioning for Outlander was really quite simple,” he said. “My agent put me up for the role, I got a call for the audition, went in, read two scenes which the Casting Director recorded and then 4 weeks later I got a call from my agent saying I’d been booked for the role of Joe Abernathy! Yaaaay!!!! Happy days!”
Happy days indeed! With the role of Joe being pivotal for the part of the story that deals with Claire’s time back in the 20th century, we wondered how Wil approached the creation of his character.
“Depending on the role I'm about to play, I’ve always had a slightly different approach,” Wil explained. “With Joe being my first American role on TV, it was crucial for me to get the American dialect spot on. So I spent a lot of time going around speaking with an American accent in everyday life - on the phone to people, buying things from the shop and so on. I wanted to get comfortable with it so that I wasn’t focusing in on the accent while on set and could just concentrate on getting my acting for the scenes right. I was wary about reading the books because I didn’t know how much was going to be included. Instead, I read breakdowns of the books and the character, so that I could get an overall feel for Joe. Then I went straight from the scripts that were given to me.”
Given that Wil is now very familiar with the man he is to portray, we asked him to describe Dr Abernathy in five words.
“Five words to describe Joe?” Wil asked. “Hmmmmm. I’d say thoughtful, kind, intuitive, charming and loyal.”
And does he see similarities in his own personality?
“Yes there are similarities,” Wil agreed, “which is rare when you're playing a character that is not only from a different time in history, but also from another continent!”
When we asked what life was like on the Outlander set, Wil’s response was emphatic.
“Being on the set of Outlander was AWESOME!!" he said. “The scale of everything was mega and the attention to detail was out of this world. I loved every minute.”
Of course, there is another very important string to Wil’s performing bow, that of professional DJ. We wondered how DJing fit into the overall creative picture.
“DJing has been in my life since I was 12yrs old,” Wil said. “I started a sound system with my brother when we were at school, playing at local parties and it developed from there. I've actually been a DJ longer than I've been an actor. Music is a huge part of my life and always will be. Being able to entertain people through music is the ultimate buzz for me. As for combining my acting and my DJing, it’s quite easy. The acting comes first and when I have free time, I DJ.”
With such a busy life, we wondered how much free time Wil is actually able to enjoy!
“Oh, my down time is very simple,” he replied. “Quality time with my wife and children, cooking, watching movies, going to the cinema or the theatre - and not forgetting a cold winter’s night in front of the log fire with a glass of Prosecco and a bar of chocolate!”
Finally, as fans gear up for season 3 and Claire’s ultimate return through the stones, we asked Wil where he would travel to, if he could.
“Where would I go? Good question! I think I would go back to see my ancestors pre slavery, waaaay back to Africa.”
Excerpt Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
“Skinny white broad with too much hair, but a great ass,” he said at last. “Nice tits, too,” he added, with a cordial nod. “That what you want to know?” “Yes,” I said, relaxing my rigid posture. “That’s exactly what I wanted to know. It isn’t the sort of question you can ask just anybody.” He pursed his lips in a silent whistle, then threw back his head and roared with delight. “Lady Jane! You’ve got you a man!”
Excerpt season 3, Starz adaptation
"Do you still love him?"
“Skinny white broad with too much hair, but a great ass,” he said at last. “Nice tits, too,” he added, with a cordial nod. “That what you want to know?” “Yes,” I said, relaxing my rigid posture. “That’s exactly what I wanted to know. It isn’t the sort of question you can ask just anybody.” He pursed his lips in a silent whistle, then threw back his head and roared with delight. “Lady Jane! You’ve got you a man!”
Excerpt season 3, Starz adaptation
"Do you still love him?"
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| Why we love Dr Joe! |
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. She recently saw Wil portray Claudius in ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ and can’t wait to see him become Dr J!
Claire's life
A Man of Many Hats! An interview with Ross Owen by your Aussie Blogging Lass
As everyone knows, a show like Outlander doesn’t come together without the combined efforts of a lot of people. From lead actor, to the last person listed on the production crew, to the publicity and promotion team, every single person has a vital role to play in bringing Diana Gabaldon’s wonderful world to life. But what if your involvement with Outlander crossed more than one department?
This is the case for Ross Owen, a supporting actor in seasons 1 and 2, who also works as a radio broadcaster and producer of The Ross Owen Show, where he has since interviewed some of his erstwhile colleagues. It is certainly a unique perspective of the Outlander universe, and one which Ross was kind enough to share with us here at Outlander Homepage.
This is the case for Ross Owen, a supporting actor in seasons 1 and 2, who also works as a radio broadcaster and producer of The Ross Owen Show, where he has since interviewed some of his erstwhile colleagues. It is certainly a unique perspective of the Outlander universe, and one which Ross was kind enough to share with us here at Outlander Homepage.
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown!
The Internet Movie Database lists Ross Owen's Outlander credits as a highlander/villager/prisoner. More specifically, this meant appearing in Wentworth Prison in season 1, then switching to Paris for the court of Versailles, before rounding out the season as a highlander for the final dramatic episodes of season 2. With such varied characters to portray, we began our interview by asking Ross about his experiences of life ‘on set’.
“A typical day on set for any supporting artist is a long day,” he said. You have to arrive from around 7am and you could still be there as late as 10pm. Fortunately for me, the Outlander studio is literally just 5 minutes from my house, but every time I’ve worked on the show we’ve been shooting outdoors on location. The first thing to be done is to get everyone into costume. Generally this happens in the studio although sometimes it’s done on location. This can be time consuming if there are a lot of supporting artists being used that day - and in Outlander’s case, there generally is! Once everyone is in costume, we’re escorted to a bus that takes us to the shooting location and then we hang around until we’re needed.”
Knowing the unpredictable nature of the climate, we wondered how difficult this “hanging around” can get.
“The Scottish weather can be cruel at times,” Ross agreed. “One of the hardest things for a supporting artist to deal with on an outdoor shoot can be the cold. There’s a lot of waiting around and you can’t just wander off inside to get warm because you might be needed for a scene at short notice. In some cases, you can come prepared by wearing thermal underwear/long johns etc. but if you happen to be one of the artists dressed in a kilt or something flimsy, you could be in for a cold day. The main actors in the series don’t have this problem. They are generally kept warm with hot water bottles strategically hidden in places you wouldn’t believe!”
As we paused to imagine just where a Scotsman might hide a hot water bottle under his kilt, Ross shared another costume secret with us.
“During the filming of the ‘Hail Mary’ episode in season 2, it was a particularly wet and windy day,” he explained. “I remember seeing Andrew Gower who plays Bonnie Prince Charlie with a plastic bag over his head between scenes to stop his wig from blowing off or getting soaked in the rain. Isn’t the glamour of showbiz wonderful?!”
But despite the cold and the rain, Ross relished his time on the set.
“As a fan of the show, I love being in it,” he said. “To watch the show on TV one day, then to actually be in a scene the next is quite surreal. It feels like you’ve been transported back in time. The Outlander cast and crew are great and Sam in particular always makes time to smile and say hello to the supporting artists. He’s a genuinely nice guy.”
Given that Ross portrayed three different characters throughout the first two seasons, we wondered if he had a favourite.
“I really enjoyed shooting ‘Untimely Resurrection’ in season 2,” Ross answered. “The location that was used as the backdrop for the Palace of Versailles (Drummond Castle Gardens in Perthshire) was absolutely beautiful and it was a glorious day. I was in a scene with Sam and Duncan.The costume was classy too - certainly much more comfortable than the rags I had to wear when I was a prisoner in the Wentworth Prison episode, although it was great to be in a scene with Caitriona in Wentworth. Overall, I’ve loved every second of being on the Outlander set.”
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| Season 1 Episode 15 "Wentworth Prison" |
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| Season 2 Episode 5 "Untimely Resurrection" |
But when we asked Ross about his involvement in the upcoming season, we received a disappointing answer.
“Sadly, I wasn’t available during the shooting of series 3 due to other projects I was committed to,” he said. “Also, as I’m sure most of the fans already know, a lot of Season 3 was filmed in South Africa. I do hope to be back when she show returns to Scotland, but that’s all down to my agent.
Still, with so much involvement, we cheekily asked Ross if he could share a funny moment about his time on set.
“The funniest supporting artist story I know of didn’t actually happen on the set of Outlander,” Ross admitted, “but I must share it with you anyway. To give you a bit of background first, the person who deals with supporting artists on set is the second assistant to the director. He/She is the right hand person of the first assistant to the director. They are referred to as the 2nd AD. Here’s what happened when a supporting artist on his first ever job got offered a talking part in a TV production.
2ND AD: (to a group of SAs) Do any of you fancy a line in the next scene?
New SA: ME!
2nd AD: Ok good, Here’s what I need you to do. In the next scene, the farmer will walk towards you in the field. You will be walking towards him from the opposite direction. When he passes you, the farmer will say “Lovely day isn’t it!” You will reply with “It is.” You will then continue walking until you are out of shot. That’s it.
New SA: Just those 2 words? No problem.
Well… for the next 20 mins this SA was pacing up and down practising his ‘line’. He was becoming frantic. The palms of his hands were sweating and he kept mumbling the line to himself saying it all different ways, “It is… IT is… it IS!” Eventually he gets called up for the scene. Here’s how it went.
Director: “Action!”
Farmer: (walks across the field towards the SA) “It’s a lovely day isn’t it!”
New SA: (walks towards the farmer shaking with nerves) “Is it!”
Director: “CUT! RESET!”
That’s my favourite supporting artist story. He only had to say 2 words but still managed to get them backwards. Brilliant!”
But acting is only one of Ross’ talents. He is also a producer, editor, interviewer and broadcaster, so we asked if he had a preference.
“It would be very cheeky of me to claim to be an actor,” Ross said, “but I do love being a supporting artist. I’ve been fascinated by the film and TV industry since I was a kid and just love being transported, as if by magic, into some great productions. My main passion right now is definitely conducting interviews though. I get more enjoyment from doing interviews than any other projects I’m involved in outside my charity work. My radio show is my baby. Editing is my least favourite aspect of the job. That’s where all the hard work is. It’s just a pain!”
Naturally, we wanted to know more about Ross’ baby, so asked for more details on his radio show.
“I’ve been a producer with Black Sky Radio since 2010,” Ross replied. “My first project as a producer was putting together our popular Band Of Brothers Cast Interviews series to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the HBO miniseries which was executive produced by Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg. I managed to secure interviews with 99% of the cast. These interviews can be heard at bandofbrotherswherearetheynow.blogspot.com. I ended up co-presenting the interviews and really enjoyed it, so in April 2016 I decided to take on my own show which I produce and present from my home in Scotland. My favourite guest so far has been Alexander Goodwin, a little boy from the UK who has been in Kansas City for the past year for life saving cancer surgery. I’m delighted to say that Alex has just returned home to the UK cancer free. He is a very special little boy who has inspired thousands of people across the world with his positive outlook during such a difficult time. My dream guest is Tom Hanks. He’s one of the biggest stars on the planet and apparently the nicest guy in the business. I hope to chat to Tom on my show in 2018. You’ll need to keep tuning in to see if it happens. My show airs worldwide online on www.therossowenshow.com every Friday at 8pm UK time on Black Sky Radio.”
Given that Ross has also interviewed his Outlander colleagues, we wondered how he went about approaching his fellow cast members and whether the experience of having been ‘on set’ helped the process.
“Well, it’s strictly taboo for supporting artists to bother the actors on any film or TV set, so I was unable to get to know any of the main actors on a personal level while working on Outlander,” Ross explained. “My approach to guests for interviews generally starts with an email to their publicist or a tweet directly to the potential guest who, if interested in doing an interview, will then put me in touch with the relevant person to set it up. It’s always fun chatting to the Outlander stars on my radio show because most of them don’t know I worked with them on Outlander until they are on air with me! I’ve become good friends with most of the guests who’ve been on my show and I love that aspect of the job.”
To conclude our interview, we asked Ross where he would like to go if he could travel through the stones himself.
“Oh, that’s an easy one for me,” Ross said. “I’m the world’s biggest Laurel and Hardy fan, so if I could time travel I’d definitely go back to the 1930s just to meet them in person - and maybe even interview them.”
We’d like to thank Ross very much for giving up his time and look forward to his future Outlander involvement, whether it’s in front of the camera, or behind the microphone!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher librarian who lives in Australia. She hopes that Ross succeeds in his dream of interviewing Tom Hanks - and would love to see both of them on season 4!
EW SHOOT
Some pics from starz
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| Sam Hoare is Hal Grey |
Our first tingle!
First look
“Serving Milord and Milady: a butler’s life” An interview with Robbie McIntosh by your Aussie Blogging Lass
OutlanderHomepage Originals By Susie Brown
No matter where their adventures take them, Jamie and Claire Fraser seem to have the good fortune of having by their side companions who will do anything to see them safe. Chief amongst these loyal men and women is, of course, Jamie’s godfather, Murtagh. But during season 2 in France, viewers met another man who became just as devoted to his Lord and Lady. Magnus, the butler of Jared Fraser’s household, was involved in some of the most dramatic and emotional scenes in season 2, including the duel between Jamie and Black Jack, Claire’s miscarriage and finally, her emotional return without Jamie by her side. So what was it like to portray this ‘Murtagh of France’? Actor Robbie McIntosh kindly agreed to chat to us about his character - as well as his career before and after Outlander.
It was, perhaps, destiny that Robbie was cast in the role of Magnus. France has been a significant part of his life for many years and indeed, was even instrumental in his choice of career.
“I was born and raised in Glasgow and then spent my adolescence in Livingston, which sits half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. When I finished school, I went to Edinburgh University to study French,” Robbie explained. “Whilst studying, I fell in love with two things that I’ve never lost my passion for – French language and the movies. When I finished my degree I then spent a year in New York studying filmmaking at Columbia University and, during that time, realised that I liked being in front of the camera just as much as I liked being behind it!
On returning to Europe I started teaching translation at the Sorbonne in Paris. A few of my colleagues and I set up a theatre group for the students to help them develop their English through acting. We booked theatres, printed tickets, directed performances and put on shows that were hugely successful. I realised that this was the world I was meant for and so I quit Paris, returned to Scotland and started my career as an actor.
Since then, I have had the great good fortune to appear in such classics of Scottish TV as the crime drama ‘Taggart’ and I continue to make my own work, doing lots of theatre, commercials, voice overs and all the other things that go into making a career as an actor.”
With such a knowledge of the French language, it is somewhat ironic that the character of Magnus didn’t have a lot of dialogue. But this was not something that bothered Robbie.
“The amazing thing about my role as Magnus was that it combined the two greatest parts of my personality – acting and a love of French,” he said. “It was an incredible experience to bring those two things together in Outlander.”
When we made reference to Magnus’s part in the pivotal duel and miscarriage scenes, Robbie was quick to express his thanks for the praise he has received since the episodes aired, as well as to bestow his own praise on the other people involved in their creation.
“I have received so many kind comments about those scenes and I am most humbled by them,” he said. “In acting, all I really want to do is to connect with the viewers on an emotionally truthful level and to help drive the different layers of the drama along.”
But did that truth come at a personal cost? Surely it must have been emotionally draining to perform those scenes?
“The duel scene was actually enormous fun to shoot, as there was lots of horse and carriage urgency, swashbuckling and disaster, which made such a change from the very formal nature of my presence in the apartment,” Robbie said. “Also, don’t forget, it was Magnus who had told Murtagh where they could duel without being caught, so I felt responsible for the calamity that was befalling Jamie and (oh my goodness) poor Claire.
With regard to filming Claire’s homecoming from hospital, the mood on the set (which is normally the most upbeat and industrious place you could ever hope for) took on a much quieter and sombre tone for the afternoon. Most of the actors involved in the scene stayed away from each other between takes and kept themselves to themselves. I remember spending the day just thinking about what Claire had gone through and allowing the feelings to sit just below the surface until we shot the scene. The role of our director, Metin Hüseyin, cannot be underestimated in creating the mood and refining the performances that day. Nor can the talent of the one and only Ms Balfe be overlooked! As I mentioned, I had done a lot of prep work for the scene but – truly – when Cait stepped out of the carriage and looked at me, I just fell apart anyway. She is a powerful human being and her life force as an actor is awesome.
Behind it all, I need to acknowledge the writer of the episode, Toni Graphia. She had mentioned to me that she was going to give Magnus something special for his final scene. I couldn’t quite believe that it would be so very moving, though.”
Robbie continued his praise of everyone on the Outlander team, as he shared some memories of his time on set. We wondered if there were any funny or poignant moments that stood out, and whether or not he was given a “Magnus memento”.
“Every person on the Outlander set is knocking it out of the park every day,” Robbie enthused. “From the writers and producers through to the casting team, technicians, costume and wardrobe people, location scouts and managers, camera crew and ADs - not to mention the explosion of talent all over the screen – it is where great people do their best work. That’s why the show is so successful.
In terms of funny moments, there are so many! It is hard to be in a room with Sam and Cait for long before you find yourself laughing uncontrollably, and when things go wrong during a take it is hilarious. As for poignant moments, I think my final scene was a special moment I will always keep close to my heart.
In terms of mementos, the only things I’ve kept are fond memories and good friendships.”
Despite his love of both France and Scotland, if given the chance to travel through the stones himself, Robbie would choose a totally different location.
“I’d travel to ancient Greece to eat fresh figs,” he said, “whilst watching classical tragedies in sunlit amphitheatres!”
Robbie’s time on Outlander may have come to an end, but it seems he has taken a butler’s ability to multitask away with him!
“I’m busy, busy, busy!” he said, when we asked what was coming up next. “I have a number of films in various stages of completion and a new TV project that, for the moment, I am required to keep to myself. I’m also working on a two-hander play which I hope to present in the fall.”
With a final nod to his humble alter-ego, Robbie’s parting words were to the Outlander fandom.
“Thank you so much for interviewing me,” he said, “and a special thank you for the kindness and generosity shown by all those wonderful Outlander fans worldwide!”
And now it’s our turn to thank Robbie, for his own generosity in sharing his time and his stories with us.
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and writer who lives in Australia. Whenever she watches episode 7, it is always the scene between Magnus and Claire that makes her cry.
“Being The Good Guy” - an interview with Laurence Dobiesz by your Aussie Blogging Lass
Any Outlander fan can tell you that there are three important Randall men in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. In the Starz TV adaptation, two of these men - the notorious Black Jack of the 18th century and Claire’s 20th century husband, Frank - are portrayed by the one actor, Tobias Menzies. But what of the third Randall, Black Jack’s younger brother, Alex? Although the total opposite to his brother in personality, Alex is the spitting image of him physically - a fact that initially had fans wondering if Tobias Menzies would end up playing all 3 roles. This idea was quickly dismissed by Outlander producers, but when publicity photos of Alex Randall started to appear, many fans commented on the uncanny physical similarities between Menzies and the newly cast Laurence Dobiesz. From photographs alone, the family connection between the two men was totally believable. So what was it like to bring the kind-hearted Randall brother to life? Luckily for us here at Outlander Homepage, Laurence Dobiesz agreed to chat to us about the process.
By Outlander Homepage Originals, Susie Brown
It seems that acting has always been in Laurence’s blood.
“Acting kind of chose me,” he explained. “From a very early age I was an incorrigible show off, the shortest guy at nursery school with the loudest voice! My first role was as Oliver in the West End production of Oliver. It’s still the best fun I’ve had as an actor for sure.”
Jumping forward in time to his Outlander audition, Laurence was definitely given a memorable introduction to his intended character’s family history.
“I hadn’t seen the show before I got the audition, so I watched a couple of episodes to prepare,” he explained. “They just happened to be the ‘whipping’ episode and the ‘prison’ episode - so I was pretty scarred after that!”
Fortunately, Laurence wasn’t deterred from joining the Randall family, and once cast, quickly set about creating his character! We wondered if there was any collaboration with Tobias Menzies when it came to displaying common mannerisms between the brothers.
One of these differences was the health of the two men. While Jack displayed the ability to survive a stampede of wild beasts at the end of season 1, Alex’s health deteriorated with each appearance in season 2. Surely this brought its own challenges?
When asked for a favourite scene, Laurence found it hard to pick just one.
The major characters of Black Jack, Jamie and Claire are well established by the time Alex Randall appears on screen. We wondered what it was like to join the set as the ‘new kid on the block’.
“The Outlander set is run like a tight (tall) ship,” Laurence explained, “but unlike many sets I’ve been on, they manage to keep it fun and friendly. As a new character on the show or as a less seasoned actor, this is such a relief as it makes you feel at home right away. My stint on the show was fairly short, but the camaraderie and the little world they’ve created at the studio made me feel part of a family, and that fuzzy feeling still remains.”
So did he take anything else home with him, other than these fuzzy feelings?
“ I’d like to say I kept a memento from set,” Laurence replied, “but all I managed to pilfer were a set of curtain ties that matched mine at home. What can I say, I’m a badass!”
If given the opportunity to do a bit of time travel himself, it turns out that Laurence wouldn’t venture too far into the past.
“I would travel to 1970s Liverpool,” he said, “so that I could watch the Liverpool team of the time at Anfield - and across Europe! They were good days for the Reds!”
Finally, we asked Laurence what is coming up next in his career.
“I have been busy writing a few things,” he replied, “ including a sports comedy screenplay and a TV sitcom which I’m writing with my wife. Acting-wise, I’m about to record my first radio drama for the BBC. And then of course, I’ll return as the cockney music hall star ‘Randy’ Randall, the great great grandson of Alex, in Outlander Season Four. (OK, one of the above isn’t true....”)
We’d like to thank Laurence for chatting with us and look forward to his next collaborations, whether factual or fictional!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and children’s writer who lives in Australia. Personally, she’d love to see the character of ‘Randy’ Randall - and wonders what his music hall act would be!
Catching up with Stephen Walters
Outlander Homepage Originals By Nancy M Guillory
If Droughtlander is creating a little nostalgia for your favorite TV show and it's beloved characters, here is a quick update on Outlander's (seasons one and two) favorite clansman, Stephen Walters, aka the funny, and feisty, Angus Mhor.
A quick chitchat with the British actor revealed several current, and upcoming projects, that are keeping him busy, doing what he loves.
When asked about his current role as "The Engineer", a sadistic warlord, in the AMC series "Into The Badlands, Stephen talked about his process for finding that character, speaking with a "southern accent", and his experience working with cast and crew.
"I genuinely couldn't tell you what happens in the show...I only did 2 episodes...next week (Which was last night) and that's it... Good people and enjoyed the role... The accent is just the one I pitch inside my head really...good to hear it was authentic to your ear drums though!!
You mostly go off the script and use your imagination... It's always an organic process and one which you never quite get to the bottom of...and I wouldn't want to either...you just commit to something and hope it sticks in some way I guess."
Whatever Stephen is doing is definitely sticking! We also talked about his upcoming projects such as UK television series "Tin Star" in which he plays "Johnny", and "Little Boy Blue", a police drama.
Whatever Stephen is doing is definitely sticking! We also talked about his upcoming projects such as UK television series "Tin Star" in which he plays "Johnny", and "Little Boy Blue", a police drama.
"In "Tin Star"...I play Johnny which was a role I loved, kind of a singing cowboy... And a drama on ITV with Stephen Graham called Little Boy Blue...we both play police officers!!...
So diverse and varied roles, which is what it's all about for me... Now filming a new series in Scotland, so good to be back here again."Hmmm.... Hopefully Stephen will be able to reveal more about the new series he's filming in Scotland when we see him in person at the Outlander in the City event in June. In the meantime, you can catch Stephen's performance as "The Engineer" in "Into The Badlands" on AMC Sundays 10/9c and On Demand.
Season 3 in costumes!
“Joining the Clan” - An interview with season 3 newcomer, James McAnerney by your Aussie Blogging Lass
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
Now entering its third season on our screens, ‘Outlander’ is an established franchise. If the eight (and soon enough, nine) books aren’t enough, the two TV series already broadcast by Starz have ensured that the characters originally created by Diana Gabaldon are loved by fans all over the world.
Everyone has their favorites: whether it be Jamie, Claire, Murtagh, Dougal, Frank, Jenny, Fergus or even arch villain Black Jack Randall, each character is familiar and beloved. Furthermore, the actors stepping into the shoes of Gabaldon’s creations have been widely praised - and many awards and accolades have already been bestowed upon the creative team as a whole.
So what would it be like to join such a well oiled machine? To find out, we asked Scottish actor James McAnerney, who will be part of the cast for the third season. While a bit of internet detective work gives a pretty good indication of the character he will portray, nothing official has yet been announced by Starz. As a result, James was unable to discuss any specifics of season 3, but graciously agreed to tell us a bit about himself and his career, as well as share some general opinions about being the “new kid on the block.”
Everyone has their favorites: whether it be Jamie, Claire, Murtagh, Dougal, Frank, Jenny, Fergus or even arch villain Black Jack Randall, each character is familiar and beloved. Furthermore, the actors stepping into the shoes of Gabaldon’s creations have been widely praised - and many awards and accolades have already been bestowed upon the creative team as a whole.
So what would it be like to join such a well oiled machine? To find out, we asked Scottish actor James McAnerney, who will be part of the cast for the third season. While a bit of internet detective work gives a pretty good indication of the character he will portray, nothing official has yet been announced by Starz. As a result, James was unable to discuss any specifics of season 3, but graciously agreed to tell us a bit about himself and his career, as well as share some general opinions about being the “new kid on the block.”
“I got into acting when we got a new chaplain at my high school,” James explained. “He asked the class how many of us went to mass and only half the people put up their hands. He then asked us why that was and for some reason, I was brave enough to say, ‘Cos it's boring!’ To his credit, he said, ‘Fair enough, so how can we make it less boring?’ Someone suggested that instead of reading the gospel, we could act it out - and the rest, as they say, is history!”
And can you guess which character James played in the resulting dramas?
“I was Jesus!” he replied.
But James didn’t go straight from portraying the Messiah to the Outlander set.
“I have been involved in stage, film and TV for 20 years,” he said. “I’ve appeared in the detective series ‘Taggart’ and the Scottish soap opera ‘River City’, as well as touring the UK with various plays.”
(NB. To see some more of James’ work, check out his showreel here: https://media.spotlight.com//metadata/videoforpublication?artistRef=M90489&pub=1&isIntro=false&artistName=%22JAMES+MCANERNEY%22)
As fans, we get to see the finished product of months of hard work. But what was it like to be on set day after day and see it all in action?
“Being on the Outlander set was incredible,” said James. “Believe it or not, the show isn't that big here in Scotland, as loads of people don't have access to Amazon Prime, the platform it's shown on here. It was way bigger than I had imagined! The detail that the art department, costume and make up departments went to was phenomenal.”
So what did a day’s work on set entail?
“A typical day for me would be to arrive at base at 7am and have breakfast. I would have sausage in a roll - square sausages, which I don't think you can get in the States. After breakfast, I went to the make up department, followed by costume. From there I went to the set at about 8.15am for the magic to begin! Wrap time varied, depending on how many scenes I was in, but I was usually done by about 7pm. Although I was new to it, everyone was so lovely, from the director, to the production team, to the cast. Sam and Cait were so nice and welcoming, as were all the cast I met.”
Twelve hour days certainly make for a busy schedule and we wondered what James likes to do when he’s not so busy. What would a perfect day entail?
“On my downtime I love doing DIY,” he replied. “I love tinkering away with stuff in the flat. My flat was built in 1850, so it's over 160 years old and it's constantly needing things done. At the moment I'm making candle holders from an old whisky barrel. As for a perfect day, for me that would be spent on a beach in Scotland, somewhere like the Isle of Harris. Honestly, Scottish beaches are truly beautiful and what makes it perfect is that they are often deserted. Even in the rain, or when the wind is howling, it's still gorgeous.”
Since time travel is such a big part of Outlander, we asked James where he would like to go if he could pass through the stones himself.
“If I could travel in time, I think I’d like to go back to when people were trying to get off the ground and fly,” James answered. “Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to read about people who were trying to invent a machine that could put you in the air and you’d stay there? Obviously we take it for granted now and it's no big deal, but think about people trying to fly for the very first time! I’d love to experience that.”
Finally, we asked James what was next, career wise.
“Next up for me, is a play called ‘I'm no a Billy he's a Tim’,” James said. “It is a comedy about a Celtic fan and a Rangers fan getting locked up and being put in the same cell on the day that their teams play each other.”
Funnily enough, this play also has an Outlander connection.
“I actually did the same play a few years back,” James explained, “with none other than Outlander’s fan favourite, Scott Kyle!”
Of course, that may have just been coincidence - or was James’ involvement in the world of Outlander always meant to be? Either way, we’d like to thank him for taking the time to chat to us and look forward to a second interview in September, when we can find out more about his involvement in season 3 and the character he portrays.
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and writer who lives in Australia. She’d really like to see what the candle holders made from a whisky barrel look like!
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| Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan at the Oscars party 2017 |
Love these from ET online
"To The Haggis" on Burns Night 2017
Outlander Homepage Originals By Nancy M Guillory
While drunkenly bellowing "Auld Lang Syne" at the stroke of New Years midnight, have you ever wondered where such an oddly worded song originated?
Well, it originated in Scotland, penned by native son Robert Burns (1759-1796), who is not only considered one of the Greatest Scots, but is celebrated worldwide every January 25th, with Burns Night festivities commemorating the poet's birth.
Now, you're probably thinking; well who was this amazing man, who is still celebrated two hundred and fifty eight years later? Surely he must have been someone of noble birth, a man of great importance from a well known, wealthy family. Perhaps he even held a title, or made history with feats of bravery in some great battle?
Now, you're probably thinking; well who was this amazing man, who is still celebrated two hundred and fifty eight years later? Surely he must have been someone of noble birth, a man of great importance from a well known, wealthy family. Perhaps he even held a title, or made history with feats of bravery in some great battle?
Not hardly. Despite his strict, hardscrabble, agricultural upbringing,
Scotland's National Poet was the 18th century equivalent of a modern rock star. Sadly, his short life was spent living from pillar to post, while fathering twelve children with numerous women before his death at age thirty-seven. Then again, what would we expect from the guy who wrote bawdy ditties with titles like: Nine Inches Will Please a Lady.
One would think a poor farmer's eldest son would be the least likeliest of lads to become his nation's most celebrated poet, yet the "ploughman's poet" is still frequently recited, and used in other literary works.
One would think a poor farmer's eldest son would be the least likeliest of lads to become his nation's most celebrated poet, yet the "ploughman's poet" is still frequently recited, and used in other literary works.
Mr. Burns witty and sometimes sage quips, have become famously quoted sayings.
My favorite being: "Man's inhumanity to man, makes countless thousands mourn."
Besides the previously mentioned Auld Lang Syne, popular poems (written in both Scot's and English languages) such as: "To A Mouse" (an ode to the field mouse whose nest he destroyed accidentally while ploughing), have been credited for inspiring the literary likes of John Steinbeck, (Of Mice and Men) and Sidney Sheldon, (The Best Laid Plans) as well as other well known authors.
"To a Mouse"
"But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!"
Other well known lauded works by Robert Burns include: Ae Fond Kiss, Tam O Shanter, A Red Red Rose, and The Battle of Sherramiur, just to name a few. But the most recited of his works besides Auld Lang Syne would have to be, The Selkirk Grace, and Address to a Haggis. Both required recitations at any proper Burns Night supper.
The Burns Night supper has become an international event as celebrations are held by Scots around the globe each January to commemorate "Our Rabbie". It's much more than just a pot luck, or a casual gathering of friends. A true, and proper Burns Night is quite the show, with revelers garbed head to toe in Highland/tartan finery, the sound of pipes and drums, polished swords and the most important guest... the haggis.
Besides the previously mentioned Auld Lang Syne, popular poems (written in both Scot's and English languages) such as: "To A Mouse" (an ode to the field mouse whose nest he destroyed accidentally while ploughing), have been credited for inspiring the literary likes of John Steinbeck, (Of Mice and Men) and Sidney Sheldon, (The Best Laid Plans) as well as other well known authors.
"To a Mouse"
"But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!"
Other well known lauded works by Robert Burns include: Ae Fond Kiss, Tam O Shanter, A Red Red Rose, and The Battle of Sherramiur, just to name a few. But the most recited of his works besides Auld Lang Syne would have to be, The Selkirk Grace, and Address to a Haggis. Both required recitations at any proper Burns Night supper.
The Burns Night supper has become an international event as celebrations are held by Scots around the globe each January to commemorate "Our Rabbie". It's much more than just a pot luck, or a casual gathering of friends. A true, and proper Burns Night is quite the show, with revelers garbed head to toe in Highland/tartan finery, the sound of pipes and drums, polished swords and the most important guest... the haggis.
Those attending are piped into the venue, and once everyone has their dram ready, the haggis is piped into the room. The procession is led by the bagpiper, followed by a sword bearer, next the whisky bearer, the haggis bearer in the middle, ending with two more broadsword protecting the rear flank. Once the haggis is carefully settled in it's place of honor, it is "addressed" by some lucky fellow reciting Burns poem by the same name, in the Scots dialect, as he slices open the steaming treat with his dagger.
Finally, the haggis is toasted with everyone tossing back a dram of whisky, (you cannot have a Burns Night supper without uisge beatha, the "water of life") shouting "to the haggis!!".
The Selkirk Grace is then spoken over the meal, and supper of traditional Scottish food is served.
Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat an
canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit!
As guests are polishing off a repast of neeps, tatties, oatcakes, cottage pies, and desserts like cranachan, and tipsy laird, (whisky trifle) traditional toasts are made, always in a specific order.
Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat an
canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit!
As guests are polishing off a repast of neeps, tatties, oatcakes, cottage pies, and desserts like cranachan, and tipsy laird, (whisky trifle) traditional toasts are made, always in a specific order.
First there is the Immortal Memory honoring Robert Burns himself. Next is the toast to the lassies, always made by a gentleman, followed by a toast to the lads, naturally made by one of the ladies present.
These three toasts usually border perilously close to roasting the intended recipients, but rarely ever cross the line.
Lastly there is a more respectful, and reverent, toast to Scotland.
The rest of the evening is then spent reciting, or singing selected poems and verse from the birthday boy's vast body of work mixed in with music, and dancing,
aka a ceilidh. The party concludes with those present gathering in a circle, crossing arms, and holding their neighbor's hands, while singing the first two verses of.. Yup! You guessed it! Auld Lang Syne
If this sounds
like a lot of fun, that's because it is. It is an event like none other, and anyone is welcome to join in. You don't have to be a Scot to enjoy Robert Burns poetry, attend, or even host a Burns Night supper. You don't even have to wear tartan if you don't have one, although it is a sight to see the kaleidoscope of clan colors swirling around the dance floor. All you need is a haggis, some neeps, and tatties, and plenty of good single malt scotch whisky, to share with your friends.
Slà inte mhath!!!!
aka a ceilidh. The party concludes with those present gathering in a circle, crossing arms, and holding their neighbor's hands, while singing the first two verses of.. Yup! You guessed it! Auld Lang Syne
If this sounds
like a lot of fun, that's because it is. It is an event like none other, and anyone is welcome to join in. You don't have to be a Scot to enjoy Robert Burns poetry, attend, or even host a Burns Night supper. You don't even have to wear tartan if you don't have one, although it is a sight to see the kaleidoscope of clan colors swirling around the dance floor. All you need is a haggis, some neeps, and tatties, and plenty of good single malt scotch whisky, to share with your friends.
Slà inte mhath!!!!
Je Suis Prest, An interview with Ryan Ralph Gerrard
OutlanderHomepage Originals By Susie Brown
Any true Outlander fan can tell you that the Fraser clan motto, “Je Suis Prest” means “I am ready.” For actor Ryan Ralph Gerrard, it’s a motto that he seems to have taken to heart. After appearing as an extra on Outlander’s season 1, Ryan knew that he too was ready - ready for more. So much so, that he’s set to return to the show in season 3 in a larger, yet-to-be-announced role. While the specifics of his return are currently under wraps, Ryan agreed to talk to Outlander Homepage about the rest of his career. He also shared his choice of time period were he suddenly able to travel through the stones himself!
Indeed, it was travel that first set a young Ryan on the acting path.
"As a child I was lucky enough to go abroad quite frequently with family,” he explained. “Unlike my sister, Laura, who was quite reserved as a child, I possessed a lot of confidence and so I would talk with the hotel manager and performers, to organise a way in which I could be involved with their shows! I must've been about 4 or 5 at the time, but I remember vividly - at a bar in Benidorm - watching a man named Martin Kemp perform his one-man show of impersonations. For me, the idea that one man was making a room of 100 or so people laugh or cry was magical. I think from that moment on, my flame of ambition to become a performer was lit and it still ultimately drives me forward to this day.”
It took a while before Ryan’s performing life could begin, however.
“I grew up just outside of Glasgow and there were never any artistic opportunities in my area,” Ryan told us. “Luckily for me, my parents could see my passion from a young age and so they raised the funds to send me to The Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre and Arts. During my 3 years at the school, I made contacts from both the theatrical and TV/film industries which led to me joining an agency for background artists. During my high school years, whilst all of my peers were experimenting in the world of 'partying', I tended to spend less time socialising and more time learning about the craft. I would spend most of my free time on the sets of BBC’s Waterloo Road and BBC Scotland’s River City as an extra. This really opened my eyes to how a tv or film production was run. It was something I'd never been taught and ironically it’s where I now spend all of my time.”
Family continued to play an important part in Ryan’s developing career, with an early role reliant on him having had an emotional personal experience.
Ryan on set of "James and the Urn"
“My grandad, Tom Gerrard, had recently passed away,” said Ryan, “when I saw the audition for ‘James and the Urn’ come up. It required the actor to have knowledge or experience of being connected to a loved one who had recently passed. So, in my audition tape, I used my Grandad’s urn and ashes. This was the first time I was emotionally invested in a role, because what was happening in reality had parallels with the story. ‘James and the Urn’ premiered at the Edinburgh Filmhouse cinema in 2014 and enjoyed a sold out run. I then went on to do ‘Outlander’.
When Season 1 began filming, Ryan was invited to be a background artist for a month, while the Witch Trial scenes with Caitriona Balfe and Lotte Verbeek were being shot. It was an unforgettable time.
“I can honestly say, that at that time it was one of the best jobs I had ever done,” Ryan said. “I met some incredible friends during that month and because we spend mostly every hour of every day together, we bonded really quickly. All of the actors were extremely humble and warm towards me.”
With Melissa Boreland and Emma Findlay during Outlander Season 1
But Ryan knew he was ready for more.
“Essentially, like any aspiring actor, I have been climbing the ladder,” he said. “There came a time where I had to call it a day doing extra work. Watching Caitriona and Lotte perform really inspired me to keep pushing and to fight to get to where I wanted to be. Background artists are extremely important to making a scene look believable, but I knew that I wanted to be next to the main actors on screen, not behind them.”
And it appears that his determination has succeeded.
“Who knew that one day, I would be back on Outlander, as a cast member?” Ryan teased. “I definitely struck gold!”
On set for season 3, with Sam Heughan
Unfortunately, Ryan is not allowed to talk about his season 3 role or experiences just yet, but he has promised to do so later in the year. So, while we wait, we contented ourselves with asking him which time period he would travel to, if he suddenly found himself able to go through the stones.
“I've always said that I'm an old soul,” Ryan answered. “I really love the 1920s and the whole vibe and glamour that was associated with that era. Of course, it was awful for the majority of people who didn't have money - but if I could go back and wake up every day, throw on a three piece suit, smoke a cigar, listen to jazz music and sip a cocktail, I'd be quite content!”
This sounds like a relaxing lifestyle, so we asked Ryan to tell us about his real life “down time” and to share his idea of a perfect day
“Most of an actor’s life is 'down-time',” Ryan commented, “so to be completely honest, most of it for me is filled with constant auditions and liaising with contacts about work. However, my idea of a perfect day is to relax at home with a coffee nearby, reading lots of new plays and watching the new uploads to Netflix. It's important for me to keep up to date with TV and theatre. It's constantly changing and I'm always learning. I'm also really beginning to enjoy 10 minutes of meditation in the morning. I used to think it was a waste of time, but some of the projects I'm currently doing require a lot of emotion. Getting into the right state of mind and being focused is key to getting it right.”
So what’s coming up next for Ryan Ralph Gerrard?
“Now that having a role in Outlander is checked off my bucket list, I really want to expand my range of roles,” Ryan told us. “I think it's important for any actor to really explore the range of their ability. It's really easy to be stuck in a box and told, "this is who you should be" all the time, so I just want to play and see what I do and don't connect with.
In late 2016, I played the lead in “Great Expectations”. This was a contemporary take on Dickens’ classic tale, written for the stage by Neil Bartlett. It was a show that was part of my acting diploma and it allowed me to network with lots of people. The footage was shown to an agent in London and I gained representation as a result."
As "Pip"
With co star Hannah June Simpson
2016 also saw Ryan make a short film for Edinburgh University with MuckyPup Productions. The film, “Brothers” can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AZIIkX_fso
And as for 2017 and beyond?
"I already have a few projects lined up that take me through into 2018," Ryan said. "I'm working with Matthew J. Howie on "Roxy Smiles”, that's due to film in Spring.
As well as that, I have a film I'm shooting in Scotland between now and summer called, "The Second Life Club" written by Simon Jake.
In the Autumn I'll be shooting "CATALYST" in London, written by Elizabeth J. Cassidy. It's one of the projects I've most been looking forward to. It's been in development for a few years now and it's finally happening.
As "Tom" in Catalyst
With co star Lily Mae McGregor
With co stars Lily Mae McGregor and Jade-Marie Joseph
2016 was a fantastic stepping stone in my career, but in 2017 I'm aiming even higher. I can't wait to see what the year holds for me.”
We can’t wait to see either and want to thank Ryan for taking the time to speak to us. We’re already looking forward to our next chat!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and writer who lives in Australia. She’s impatiently waiting for season 3 to begin, so that she can find out the identity of Ryan’s mystery character!
"The life of a Clansman", our Ronnie B Goodwin interview!
OutlanderHomepage Originals By Susie Brown.
For 2 seasons now, Outlander fans have been kept enthralled as events led the characters inevitably towards the Battle of Culloden.
In the final episode of season 2, Jamie Fraser sent those he loved to safety, before turning back to the battlefield to meet his death.
But while each episode of the show focused on the main actors, what of those unnamed characters in the background, the many brave men who ultimately followed their chiefs into battle? Actor, Director, Photographer, Writer and Editor, Ronnie Battenberg Goodwin portrayed one of these unnamed members of the McKenzie clan. He graciously agreed to talk to Outlander Homepage about his life, his experiences and his idea of a perfect day!
To begin our interview, we wondered, with such an impressive number of career descriptors, whether Ronnie identified with one of them more than the others.
“Like any other creative, I live a very varied life,” Ronnie explained. “Yet the one thing I truly relate to is film making. It encompasses all the skills that I have developed and learned over the years, including photography and story telling.”
Interestingly, the opportunity to audition for Outlander came to Ronnie’s attention via social media.
“I saw a post on Facebook that read 'Bearded Horse Man required', so I ticked the box,” Ronnie said. “A couple of days later, I was sitting on a 17.2 Hanoverian called George! I was one of a few people chosen to join the show. At this point I didn't have a clue about Outlander, but I had a job! WooHoo! I had played a period rider before, on the show Lorna Doone, many moons ago, but the experience I had on Outlander was definitely once in a lifetime.”
Actors have many different techniques when it comes to creating a character. For Ronnie, it all came down to the look and the posture.
“As soon as they put the wig on, my character appeared in the mirror,” he said. “Then, when I sat on the horse, it felt like I was made for the part.”
When asked to recall funny or dramatic moments on the Outlander set, Ronnie was not short of examples.
“I remember many moments of near disaster!” he joked. “To give you an idea, imagine trying to get on a monster horse at 2am in the rain. It was slippery and I was cold and very uncomfortable. Next, imagine getting on and off the horse for 9 takes - and don’t forget that I was in full highland dress as well. Eventually, you lose all your strength. I ended up needing to find a block of wood or a tree stump to help get a leg up!”
But mounting the horse was only the beginning.
“Another time, we were filming the ambush episode, when my groom didn't tighten my girth enough. I was sitting on George, but another one of the highlanders, Roy Ramsay, had to get on as well. In the story, Roy’s horse had been shot from under him, so we had to ride two up. He and I locked arms and I hauled him up, but the saddle slipped and we both ended up under the horse! Fortunately for us, George didn't move. We were very lucky.”
Unfortunately, Ronnie wasn’t quite so lucky whilst on location at Doune Castle.
“Probably my most painful memory would be the time that I bumped my head on the castle archway,” he said. “I didn't do that twice!”
When asked where he would choose to go if given the opportunity to travel forward or backwards in time, Ronnie’s answer was heartfelt.
“I would travel back in time to see my grandad,” he said. “My grandad was my hero, and I didn't get to say goodbye.”
With such a busy life, spare time is rare and we wondered what Ronnie’s perfect day would look like.
“ I rest in my spare time,” said Ronnie. “I’m definitely an early to bed, early to rise person. I love the morning light for my pictures. My perfect day involves sitting on Betty Blue, casting a fly for a couple of hours and enjoying the outdoors.”
With such a busy life, spare time is rare and we wondered what Ronnie’s perfect day would look like.
“ I rest in my spare time,” said Ronnie. “I’m definitely an early to bed, early to rise person. I love the morning light for my pictures. My perfect day involves sitting on Betty Blue, casting a fly for a couple of hours and enjoying the outdoors.”
(Luckily for us, Ronnie provided a link to illustrate this perfect day.
Go here: https://youtu.be/PyYleOJC2T4 and you might just recognise another Outlander actor, providing the voice of the soundtrack...)
Go here: https://youtu.be/PyYleOJC2T4 and you might just recognise another Outlander actor, providing the voice of the soundtrack...)
Finally, talk turned to the future, as Ronnie shared a little of what might be coming up next.
“I have a great opportunity,” he explained. “I’ve been through the first process and did OK I think. Now I just need to wait!”
We’d like to thank Ronnie for giving up his time to talk to us - and certainly wish him all the best for his new opportunity!
As a final treat, why not check out his ebook, which has some wonderful photographs and stories - and some more appearances from a familiar Outlander clansman...
The link is here: https://ronniebgoodwin.selz.com/item/5444e0b7b7987209cca95558
As a final treat, why not check out his ebook, which has some wonderful photographs and stories - and some more appearances from a familiar Outlander clansman...
The link is here: https://ronniebgoodwin.selz.com/item/5444e0b7b7987209cca95558
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and writer who lives in Australia. She has never been fly fishing - but Ronnie’s video certainly looks inviting!
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| Tom |
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| Mare McNab character |
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| Jack Holden plays Lt. Hector Dalrymple |
Digital Art By Las
http://www.redbubble.com/people/lasart/shop
https://m.facebook.com/Digital-Art-by-LAS-715644805241753/
Lori Stern's work is truly beautiful. she also made our flier for Outlander in the City Dinner event!
The Dunsany sisters
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| Tanya Reynolds as Isobel |
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| Hannah James as Geneva Dunsey |
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| Young Jamie is played by Connor McCarry |
LOCATIONS OF OUTLANDER - a glimpse of Castle Leoch, home of Clan Mackenzie! An interview by your Aussie Blogging Lass
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
Ever since season 1 debuted in 2014, Outlander has been impressing fans worldwide. The acting is superlative; the costumes amazing and the music inspirational. Producer Ronald Moore described the show as “a love letter to Scotland” and indeed, the Scottish landscape has been like another character. Scottish tourism has benefitted from this adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s novels, with many fans flocking to see the Outlander sites. One such fan, Fiona McD Gallacher, recently travelled from Australia to her father’s birthplace. On the way, she stopped by Doune Castle in the Stirling district of Central Scotland, or, as we fans know it better, Castle Leoch! She shared her thoughts of the experience with us.
Ever since season 1 debuted in 2014, Outlander has been impressing fans worldwide. The acting is superlative; the costumes amazing and the music inspirational. Producer Ronald Moore described the show as “a love letter to Scotland” and indeed, the Scottish landscape has been like another character. Scottish tourism has benefitted from this adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s novels, with many fans flocking to see the Outlander sites. One such fan, Fiona McD Gallacher, recently travelled from Australia to her father’s birthplace. On the way, she stopped by Doune Castle in the Stirling district of Central Scotland, or, as we fans know it better, Castle Leoch! She shared her thoughts of the experience with us.
 |
| An impressive sight on arrival |
OHP: What was your overall impression of the castle at first sight?
Fiona: It was a gorgeous wet and soggy day the day we went to the Castle so it was always going to be a typically Scottish experience! The Castle sits virtually next door to modern houses down a very narrow roadway and I can only imagine how difficult it was to get all of the cast, crew, animals etc. down there for filming. The neighbours must have been very obliging!
OHP: How much of the castle are you able to tour - are there some bits that are too old/unsafe etc.?
Fiona: Because of the rain it was a bit precarious in some spots outside and there is quite a slope to get up to the main part of the Castle. Inside it was a bit easier and the kitchen and great hall/dining hall were gorgeous! I even managed to find the facilities!
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| Great Hall |
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| Kitchen/Dining |
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| Great Hall |
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| Great Hall |
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| The Facilities! |
OHP: How is a tour set out/how long does it take? What were the highlights?
Fiona: There is an audio tour that you can take which is included in the entry cost. I didn’t listen to the full tour but the highlight for me was Sam Heughan’s commentary on the kitchen. It was short but fantastic.
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| Display boards from the tour |
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| Lots of information is included |
OHP: Could you recognise parts of the castle used for filming Outlander - and if so, which parts?
Fiona: Absolutely! The façade is exactly as you would remember it from the opening recaps from most of the first half of Season 1. It looks much larger though and there are a few modern day additions - where there were horses and hay in front of the castle in the show there’s now a car park! I’ve re-watched a couple of Castle Leoch scenes since I came back and it’s quite brilliant how they made the surrounding area look so authentic.
OHP: Does the place have an atmosphere, or is it now more a tourist destination?
Fiona: Some people may see it as just another old building but it does have some of the atmosphere that you get from the screen. The fact that it was raining the day we went made the atmosphere all the more authentic! It was easy to picture that the Clan might gather in the great hall/dining hall and the grassed courtyard inside the castle walls was wet and soggy and just as it should have been. It’s a definite must-see for Outlander fans.
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| Beautiful architecture |
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| Can't you imagine looking out? |
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| Very atmospheric |
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| Example of the walls |
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| Archways everywhere |
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| Even the light fixtures are ornate |
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| Picture Colum sitting here! |
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| Perfect place to contemplate the 18th century |
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| Almost expect to bump into a clansman any second! |
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| The wet and soggy courtyard |
Sadly Murtagh, Jamie and Dougal were out the day we visited - next time, perhaps!
We’d like to thank Fiona McD Gallacher for giving us this glimpse into castle life! Even though Castle Leoch's part in the story is done, we're sure that Season 3 will give us many more beautiful Scottish sights to gaze upon.
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a teacher-librarian and writer who lives in Australia. She has never been to Castle Leoch, but it is definitely on her 2017 travel itinerary!
Outlander playing cards
https://www.cryptozoic.com/outlander-trading-cards-season-1
Season 2 out takes
Chatting with Our Favorite Godfather - an interview with Duncan Lacroix by your Aussie Blogging Lass
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
When it comes to right hand men, they don’t come much better than Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser. Kinsman and godfather to Jamie Fraser in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, Murtagh is certainly not one for hearty laughter or animated conversation. Yet beneath his somewhat taciturn exterior, Murtagh is a loyal and loving protector, prepared to do anything for those he loves.
"I swore ye my oath, Jamie Fraser, when ye were no more than a week old, and a bonny lad at your mother's breast."
I could feel the tiny start of astonishment as Jamie's eyes opened wide.
"I knelt at Ellen's feet, as I kneel now by yours," the little clansman went on, narrow chin held high. "And I swore to her by the name o' the threefold God, that I would follow ye always, to do your bidding, and guard your back, when ye became a man grown, and needing such service."
~ ‘From Dragonfly in Amber’ by Diana Gabaldon Chapter 19 ~
Indeed, Murtagh’s bonds of love and loyalty were displayed time and time again during the first two seasons of the Starz series, to the point where fans coined the social media hashtag, #EverybodyNeedsAMurtagh.
The actor responsible for portraying everyone’s favorite kinsman is Duncan Lacroix and he graciously agreed to chat to us at Outlander Homepage, beginning the interview by sharing his method of preparing for such a pivotal character.
“To begin with, I read Diana Gabaldon’s words and used ‘book Murtagh’ as a kind of template for his demeanour,” Duncan explained. “Then I looked at other books that dealt with that period of history and highland life. I also watched documentaries about mountain guys - modern day equivalents to that kind of character, if you like. My favourite was one called Hillbilly Blood: A Hardscrabble Life. Finally, when it came time for filming, I just took each episode as it came.”
Although Murtagh is an important character in the books, his popularity with tv audiences soon led to an expansion of the character on screen. This is something that could have been daunting for an actor - particularly given the passion of Outlander fans - but Duncan was not phased.
“As the role expanded I didn't feel any particular pressure,” he said, “more a sense of gratitude that I could sink my teeth into scenes more.”
While Murtagh was not capable of travelling through time, we wondered how the Scotsman would have coped had he had suddenly found himself in the 21st century.
“I think if Murtagh were to somehow find himself in our time he'd cope fairly well, but I don't think he'd be a happy bunny,” said Duncan. “He'd probably take a look around for a couple of days, pack his things and disappear off grid ASAP!”
By contrast, Duncan would be keen to disappear through the stones, if given the chance.
“Oh, I'd love to go way back,” he said. “Maybe 11, 500 years ago to see how advanced we were or weren't back then. I'd love to know how they were able to build those huge monuments, the ones which still seem to puzzle archaeologists today.”
Before signing on to play everyone’s favorite Godfather, Duncan had worked extensively in the theatre and we asked if he had a standout role that he had either already played or still yearned to play.
“I suppose the part that was the most satisfying and challenging was the role of The Librarian in a great little play called Underneath the Lintel," Duncan said. “It was a one man show and just pure storytelling. There was definitely nowhere to hide on that one, which was what made it so rewarding. Only a handful of people saw it though - typical! As for new challenges, one part I have always wanted to play is Iago from Othello.”
But what about on the big screen? Were there any iconic movie roles that Duncan would love to tackle?
“I'm always a bit suspicious of remakes,” Duncan replied, “so I'm not sure I'd attempt to recreate an iconic role.”
The Outlander filming schedule is famous for its length and intensity, so we asked Duncan what he liked to do on his time off.
“A perfect day would be to find myself in a city or part of the world that I've never been to before,” he answered. “I’d love to just go walking around, taking it all in.”
Finally, we asked Duncan about life advice: what was the best advice he had been given, or would like to give to someone else? Not surprisingly perhaps, he was decidedly “Murtagh-like” in his response.
“I've learnt over the years that you're nine times out of ten better off listening to your own gut than anyone else’s advice,” he said, “as well intentioned as it may be. That way the mistakes and successes are yours alone. So I guess my advice is to not to listen to any. But that's just me.”
We’d like to thank Duncan for being so generous with his time in answering our questions.
As Season 3 continues to film, we will have to wait and see what fate (and tv scripts) have in store for Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser - hopefully we will at least see him guarding Jamie’s back on Culloden’s battlefield.
As Season 3 continues to film, we will have to wait and see what fate (and tv scripts) have in store for Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser - hopefully we will at least see him guarding Jamie’s back on Culloden’s battlefield.
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown - a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia and has always needed a Murtagh!
Something fun to read
Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the first two seasons of Outlander with this official, fully illustrated companion to the hit Starz television series based on the bestselling novels.
It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon’s bestsellingOutlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed.
Now the must-watch drama has inspired this must-have guide, which reveals that it takes a village (or perhaps a Scottish isle) to bring the breathtaking world of Outlander to life in front of our eyes. Spanning the first two seasons of the Starz network sensation, The Making of Outlander leads readers behind the scenes and straight into the action as cast members, writers, producers, musicians, costume designers, set decorators, technicians, and more share the many adventures and challenges they face to make this sweeping saga come alive on the screen.
In exclusive interviews, the show’s stars, including Caitriona Balfe (Claire), Sam Heughan (Jamie), and Tobias Menzies (Frank Randall/Black Jack Randall), discuss the daunting task of embodying some of fiction’s most beloved characters—and satisfying the high expectations of devotedOutlanderreaders. Executive producer and showrunner Ronald D. Moore looks at the inner workings of the writers’ room, shares his crew’s travels to the authentic overseas locations, and chronicles the brainstorming, building, breakneck pacing, and boundless energy that make everything from the show’s architecture to its outfits period-perfect. In addition, the book examines all theOutlanderepisodes through exclusive interviews with their writers and directors, providing fascinating facts into the making of each hour.
Best of all, The Making of Outlander offers a veritable feast of lavish photographs—including an array of images spotlighting the stars in all their characters’ grandeur and up-close personal portraits. Featuring an introduction by Diana Gabaldon herself, this magnificent insider’s look at the world of theOutlander TV series is the companion all fans will want by their side.
To order a signed copy:
http://store.poisonedpen.com/?q=h.tviewer&using_sb=status&qsb=keyword&qse=nuS6iEhC-AzVOKuOmv4eeQ
Casting news
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| Welcome John Bell as Young Ian Murray and Wil Johnson as Dr. Joe Abernathy |
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| Welcome César Domboy as Adult Fergus Claudel Fraser |
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| Welcome Lauren Lyle As Marsali MacKenzie |
Cast Interviews
More Than a Mere Ladies Maid: Meet Adrienne-Marie Zitt!
Outlander Homepage Originals By Nancy M Guillory
Outlander fans might swoon over Jamie Fraser, but his irresistible godfather Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, has fast become popular with the ladies, especially as his love life heated up with a pretty French house maid in season two of the Starz series.
Vive Les Frasers!
Who is the actress lucky enough to play Suzette, opposite fan favorite Duncan Lacroix? Well, the lovely French-born, Adrienne-Marie Zitt, isn't just lucky, she is smart, multi-talented, charmingly quirky, endearingly down to earth and was kind enough to give Outlander HomePage and our followers, a chance to get to know her better.
Outlander Home Page (OHP): When in your life did you realize entertainment (acting, singing, writing, yep, she can do it all!) was your calling?
Adrienne-Marie Zitt (AMZ): To be honest, I have always been attracted to creative endeavors. The first "job" I ever wanted to was circus horsewoman after I saw the women in sparkly costumes doing acrobatics on the horses backs when I was about 4 years old. Then, by age 10, I was directing, writing, and acting in my own plays in the schoolyard (as well as singing in the school choir), casting my friends and (probably entirely baffled) random children in the playground! My big hit was a play called "The Misadventures of the Sun King" and involved Louis the 14th, a crown, a pulley system, and a teddy bear. Big success!
Well that playground perseverance paid off! Adrienne-Marie charmed Outlander fans in her portrayal of the Fraser's house maid Suzette. Her character also charmed the scowl right off of Murtagh.
OHP: Your "love scene" with Duncan Lacroix was fantastic! How hard was that scene to shoot? Surely that scenario created a few out takes.
AMZ: Aaaah, the famous "love" scene with Duncan. It was actually a pretty quick scene to shoot. Caitriona wasn't there that day so it was just those shots of Duncan and me, and that one line. We did about 5 or 6 takes I think, mostly because Metin wanted me to bow before I said my line, and I kept forgetting (possibly because I was on my first TV shoot, topless, and straddling a man I'd only met on a couple of occasions. I will always remember looking down at Duncan under the sheets thinking... This is SURREAL...) I just especially remember afterwards, it had really felt like a bonding experience for both of us. We were both very nervous about it.
I think most Outlander fans will agree, that was one of the season's favorite scenes.
OHP: You've done both camera, and stage work. Which one do you find more challenging? Is there a specific aspect, or element of the industry that is your true passion?
AMZ: By far I have found the camera work much more challenging, but that is possibly because my experience in TV is limited to... Outlander! Whereas I have decades of experience in stage work, and the bulk of my training was theatre-based. It's a very different process, usually much slower, you get to really know your cast mates, you rehearse a lot, you have a lot of time to explore... TV, at least the Outlander experience, struck me by its very different rhythm, and the amount of technical things you have to keep in mind. I can't believe it now, watching my few seconds of chasing after Caitriona on the stairs, how many technical notes there were on that simple move. With theatre you don't really contend with technical stuff until the very last days before opening night. So, I'd say so far I cherish the theatre process, but I'd love to expand my TV experience, just for fun.
Well, Outlander fans certainly enjoyed your TV experience, and hope you get the chance to expand your television appearances.
OHP: If you could play the lead role in a remake of any classic film, which one would you choose, and who would you want as your leading man?
AMZ: Ooooh that's tricky! Very tricky! My first thought was Scarlet O'Hara on "Gone With the Wind", because it's such a kick-ass female role, the likes of which are seldom seen nowadays. Here's a woman who's beautifully flawed, a bit of a villain, but not in a simple way. But, you know, Scarlet is really Vivian Leigh, it's difficult to imagine stepping into that! If I got to do it, just for fun, I'd choose Richard Armitage as my leading man, since I couldn't have Clark Gable....
Hey, we knew from her role as Suzette this lady has excellent taste when it comes to leading men!
OHP: Where/when will we get to enjoy your talents again? What upcoming projects are you working on?
AMZ: Well, for the moment, my projects are either writing or theatre directing based. I'm in touch with a small theatre company whose scripts I have really liked, very female-focused, strong, little known stories. I may be acting with them at some point soon, so I'll keep you posted on that. It would be quite an exciting part. I also have quite a few songs to record! So as per usual - I"m back to what I was doing at age 10.
What she was doing then, certainly seems to be working well for this hard working, gracious actress now.
Outlander Home Page really enjoyed talking to Adrienne-Marie Zitt, and wish her all the best as we look forward to seeing more of her on stage and screen.
Cast interviews
“GUARDING THE RIGHT - Being Ian Murray” An interview with Steven Cree by your Aussie Blogging LassOutlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
Throughout season 1 of the television series (and briefly again in season 2), actor Steven Cree portrayed the role of Ian Murray, close friend and brother-in-law of Jamie Fraser. The bond between Jamie and Ian is as strong as if the two men were actually blood brothers, something that Jenny mentions to Claire in Dragonfly in Amber:
“I remember, when they were young, auld John told Ian it was his job to stand to Jamie’s right, for he must guard his chief’s weaker side in a fight. And he did— they took it verra seriously, the two of them.”
Despite the passing of the years and the loss of part of his leg, Ian never forgets his promise to guard Jamie’s right. Jamie, in turn, takes comfort from the undying support of his oldest friend.
So what is it like to bring the important character of Ian Murray to life? Luckily for us, Steven Cree graciously agreed to an interview with Outlander Homepage, chatting about everything from music teachers, to his favourite breakfast - and even a wooden leg with a mind of its own!
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“I first got involved in acting through doing musicals at my school,” Steven told us. “I had an amazing music teacher called Fiona McKenzie, who was a huge inspiration. I loved singing and was in the school choir. When I was about 12 I saw the film version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar', which made me really want to be an actor. I was obsessed with the film and watched it literally hundreds of times.”
Then, when he was in drama school, Steven finally got to play the role of Jesus.
“Maybe it was because I could grow a good beard!” he joked. “In a way, I always wanted to act or perform, though I never really believed it would be possible. I'm not from an acting background and didn't know anyone involved. So it seemed very unrealistic.”
As it turned out, it wasn’t unrealistic at all! Steven later moved from portraying the Messiah to being the lead in a musical on London’s West End.
“My favourite role outside of Outlander was playing Cliff in Cabaret,” he said. “Cabaret is an incredible show and Cliff was a fantastic part. No matter what happens for the rest of my career, I was lucky enough to achieve my childhood dream and play a lead part in a London West End musical. The part also came very out of the blue, at a time when I'd been largely unemployed as an actor for 6 years. It was very special and gave me the belief that I could actually make a career out of acting.”
In fact, by the time Outlander auditions came around, Steven was on the list of actors to be approached.
“I auditioned for Outlander because the casting director, Suzanne Smith, asked me to,” he said. It was that audition which led to Steven being cast in the role of Ian Murray.
“When I found out I had the part of Ian, I got the book and read it immediately,” Steven said. “It helped to inform me of the world that Ian comes from and also just helped flesh out my idea of the character. He's written so well in the scripts anyway, but I wanted to be truthful for the fans and help bring that character to life. Of course, you also bring what you have naturally and then add any other flavours on top of that - plus a wig and a great costume always helps! I wouldn't say Sam, Laura and I discussed the relationships between Jamie, Jenny and Ian per se, but there are always discussions before each scene about what's going on and what the relationships are. Everyone obviously brings a very strong characterisation to their parts too and you bounce off what you are given.”
Of course, given that Ian has lost the lower part of his leg, portraying the character brought with it the difficulties of working with a very specific prop.
“I got the wooden leg before we started filming to practise on,” Steven explained, “but to be honest it took a lot of getting used to. It was really painful at first. The first few days, I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it, as walking and talking was quite tricky! But slowly I got used to it and by the end I was actually pretty fast! I had to do quite a lot of physio through filming though, as it kind of displaced the right side of my back. It made me very, very grateful to have both my legs, that’s for sure. But it was great to have as an actor, as it really adds to the character and helped me play Ian Murray. The scenes were tiring sometimes but like I say, I did get used to it and at the end of the day I always think I'm not performing heart surgery. I'm just a guy dressing up in clothes with a wooden leg pretending I'm in the 18th century! It's great fun.”
‘Behind the Scenes’ video clips showed Steven walking around with a green sock covering his real leg and we asked whether this was annoying.
“The green sock isn't annoying at all,” he replied. “Why would it be? Well, maybe slightly in the winter, when it's cold and I only have a thin green sock on! But it's very sexy...isn't it?”
After all the discomfort, physio appointments and chilly feet, the wooden leg also contributed to one of the funniest “on set” bloopers.
“There were loads of funny moments,” said Steven, “but possibly the funniest was my wooden leg shooting off in one scene into a basket of cabbages. I tried to keep going, but everyone lost it. Plus I had lost my leg!”
With filming on season 3 starting soon, we asked Steven what he likes to do when he has some time off.
“I'm in the gym a lot,” he replied. “I also love going to the cinema, always have done. It's only annoying when people make loads of noise, but I love going to see an amazing movie and getting lost in it whilst eating Ben & Jerry’s. Actually, I have to go to the gym a lot because I love Ben & Jerry’s so much. My favourite is Peanut Butter cup. And Nutella.
As well as the movies, I love sitting in cafes, drinking coffee and talking sh*t. I'm very good at that! I play football too, which I love and I love watching sports, especially tennis, football and golf.”
With such a wide variety of interests, we wondered what Steven’s perfect day would look like.
“My perfect day would be having breakfast with my wife at my favourite cafe,” he answered. “Avocado, lime & coriander on rye toast, with crispy bacon and a couple of sausages on the side. Amazing. Then I'd go to Wimbledon to see Andy Murray win Wimbledon and in the evening I'd fly to Italy to go to La Pergola restaurant in Rome - which is the best restaurant I've ever been to - and have an incredible meal. Then, just as I was having dessert, I'd get a phone call from Spielberg completely out the blue, saying he wanted me for his next film opposite Tom Cruise. Hmmm, did you say perfect day or dream day?!”
Finally, we wondered what is coming up next in Steven’s busy schedule.
“I don't have anything lined up for after Outlander yet,” he replied, “but I've written a short film that we are hopefully going to make this year, plus there are always other projects buzzing about. I also have 3 films coming out that I've done in the past year: 'Brotherhood', 'The Titan' and 'Churchill', so that's exciting.”
We would like to thank Steven for being so generous with his time and look forward to seeing him on our screens - whether film or tv - again soon!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. As book fans are aware, the character of Ian features in “Voyager,” so hopefully, the wooden leg will behave itself this time!
Art
With high plot expectations for season three!
Summerpic and KarenJean
Interview with an artist
“Picture This” An interview with Outlander fan artist, Vera Adxer, conducted by your Aussie Blogging Lass!
Outlander Homepage Originals By Susie Brown
As the famous saying suggests,
“ A picture is worth a thousand words.” Certainly there are many talented artists around the world who can tell a story by putting images onto paper, canvas or computer screen. But Outlander fan artist Vera Adxer goes one step further than that: she takes quotes from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels and then creates stunning artworks based around the words. Her images are memorable, all the more so because the actors from the Starz hit TV series also serve as the inspiration for many of the pieces.
As the latest Droughtlander continues to drag on, we were thrilled when Vera agreed to chat to us and tell us about the fan art she creates.
As the latest Droughtlander continues to drag on, we were thrilled when Vera agreed to chat to us and tell us about the fan art she creates.
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| A recent depiction of the upcoming season 4 Drums of Autumn |
OHP: Tell us something about yourself. Do you have a background in art?
Vera: I’ve always had a soft spot for art, whatever its form: painting, drawing, even designing clothes. When I finished high school, I had many options to choose from for further study. I chose primary school teaching, but it was far from what would be my true orientation. When I lacked just two subjects to graduate from Masters, I started researching design - I never imagined it could be so large! After that, I went to an Institute of Design for four years. It was very interesting, because I received a lot of training in Fine Arts and had great teachers. I followed this with a postgraduate degree in Digital Media at UNCUYO, one of the most prestigious universities in Argentina. I specialised in different fields of design, such as editorial design. I worked for a few years in an editorial capacity, but now I work independently.
The design process is usually very structured. I am always “under the eye” of my customers and I must make sure that they are happy. I have to admit that sometimes it is frustrating not to feel personally satisfied with a job, even if the customer leaves with a smile.
My hobby has always been a brush and my lectern. A few years ago I also started to write short stories. It's a very beautiful thing to be writing, drawing or painting. In short, anything artistic is part of my life!
OHP: How long have you been making Outlander fan art? What inspired you to make it?
Vera: Two years ago I created my Facebook page, "Outlander Love & Art" and then "Outlander Argentina". It was a place just for me and five other people to share something interesting about the series. Then I started creating pictures, trying to make them fit with the texts of the books. It was nothing professional, I did it just for me. But then people started to ask me for more pictures and soon I was trying to fulfill their wants. So I asked for suggestions of some specific parts of the books. As a result, I met many people. It was lots of fun. I made one or two fan artworks per day in my free time.
OHP: What was your first piece and do you have a favorite?
Vera: One of the first was of Claire and Jamie standing in a book. It is still one of my favorites, as is a more recent one of Jamie in the printshop.
OHP: Is your work exclusively Outlander based, or do you make fan art about other shows?
Vera: I also do other series - everything anyone asks me - it has become a habit for me. I have made fan art for shows like Vikings, Penny Dreadful and The Walking Dead. I am always open to new ideas. Very recently, a lady wrote to me asking if I could make an art work of her and her husband as I do with Claire and Jamie. It was very comforting to know that they looked like a cover of a romance novel!
OHP: Can you tell us something about the process of making an art work? What steps are involved? How long does it take you to make each one?
Vera: Outlander fan art is a challenge! I try not to follow a strict line in the designs. I like to innovate, but the pieces are always subject to the lines of the book. That has its advantages and disadvantages. In the beginning, I usually created a picture each day. When I set up the Twitter page, I invited my friend Begoña DÃaz to help with the choice of phrases, while I dedicated myself to the art. Bego is now making her own fan art and she is really good. I have a great student!
An artwork usually takes between 20 minutes or 1 hour, but sometimes it can take much longer. The process begins by choosing the theme. In the first season, this was often landscapes and flowers. In the second season, I started building on the historical context, looking at famous paintings and trying to merge the images. The next step involves giving clarity to a photograph. It’s not something that I like to do on a computer, because I'm not very fond of Photoshop and filters. I prefer to use my iPad and perform edits with the digital pen.
OHP: We know that your fan art is loved on Twitter - how does that make you feel?
Vera: Everything happens so fast on Twitter! It is difficult to get people’s attention, so when I thought about creating "Forsteras" therein lay the challenge! Diana Gabaldon’s books have short, romantic and classic phrases and making artworks based on these phrases was a way of getting attention both for the books and my work. It's a kind of positive energy. Today, almost a year later, we have nearly 2,400 followers, who usually leave good messages and it's fun. It is hard work, but having important people following us, such as Diana Gabaldon, Jon Gary Steele and Adhamh Ó Broin is an incentive to do more. I am always striving to do better work for our page.
OHP: Can you tell us about any favourite comments that people have made?
Vera: I have been very touched to receive private messages saying things unimaginable to me. One lady wrote to me saying the images had helped her a lot through a difficult moment in her health. I’m also thrilled when someone asks for a Fan Art to use for a raffle for charity. I am always happy to help. In a strange way without knowing it, each of those people have helped me to overcome a difficult moment of my life, and this virtual world has become something special for me.
OHP: Have you ever been contacted by anyone involved with the show?
Vera: Definitely the best day was when we had notification on Twitter that Diana had begun to follow us! Scott Kyle became a great friend, as well as many other followers of Outlander. Many of the supporting actors of the series have asked for their own piece of fan art. I loved the idea and I am grateful to each of them. I've met wonderful, maybe not famous people, but I can definitely say that I have found many friends.
Because we are limited by 140 characters, we don’t tag the protagonists in the series very often, unless they are campaigning for nominations for a prize. Last year for the Golden Globe, Sam gave us two retweets and that helped our page a lot. Then, a few months ago I received a message from Starz. They asked permission to include my name and one of my artworks on their Outlander Community website in the Fan Art section.
OHP: Have you read the Outlander books, or did you discover the story via the tv series?
Vera: Honestly, I did not know of Diana Gabaldon and I had never read the books. Romance novels were not part of my world. I’d watch a movie and if I liked it, then I’d read the book. I always liked science fiction, but had never related to romance.
But Outlander has a unique magic and from the first episode of the series I was captivated! Not even a week later, I was reading “Outlander” and two months later, I had read all eight books. Now when I watch the show with my parents, they either ask me: “What will happen now?” or “Do not tell us anything please!”
I am continually reading the books, writing down phrases in Spanish and English. I try not to use the translator for my fan art, because it doesn’t always do it correctly. It is also interesting to note that there is a big difference between a book written in English and one in Spanish. The translation can drastically change some parts of the books and that can be very frustrating.
OHP: Apart from Twitter, how can people see your work?
Vera: People can visit any of the following sites.
OHP: What plans do you have for the future?
Vera: I do not think much about the future, therefore my plans are only for tomorrow. Who knows what can happen! My way of life is "here and now", trying to give the best of me to whoever wants to receive. I'll take the end of Outlander as my philosophy: "And the world was all around us, new with possibility."
We’d like to thank Vera for answering our questions - and if you need some more help to survive “Droughtlander”, we certainly recommend heading to her sites and checking out her amazing fan art!
This interview was conducted by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia.
One of our favorites:
We would like to thank Vera for her beautiful work on our, An Evening with Graham McTavish event. The flier, poster sign, and press release art, was Vera's donation to the charity! Without which, our campaign to sell tickets would have been very limited, to say the least!
Casting
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