Caitriona Balfe On Why Romance Speculation Is So Frustrating

 

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Caitríona Balfe is one fab actress, and her role as Claire Fraser in Outlander has captured the imaginations of millions. But for Caitríona, it’s captured their imaginations a little too well. The Monaghan native opened up to Vanity Fair about just how far some fans have gone.

Outlander fans want nothing more than for Caitríona and her co-star Sam Heughan who plays her on-screen love interest, Jamie Fraser, to be together IRL. Not likely – as she’s married to Scottish music manager Anthony McGill, but that hasn’t stopped “a sliver” of the fanbase.

Caitríona confessed that some fans hired private investigators to try and find evidence of a relationship between the pair. While others even phoned the chapel where she was married and harassed the staff for proof of her marriage.

For Caitríona, it is a real shame. “It’s sad, because you meet the loveliest people who are fans of the show and they’re super supportive and they do the nicest things — and then you have that little thing, which just taints it.”

She also confessed that fans crossing the line is one of the reasons why she is keeping her son out of the public eye.

 

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The new mum explained that, “when you have a kid, you become really protective.

“I don’t want those crazies — because that’s what they are — I just don’t want them talking about him.”

Hard to blame her, considering some fans tried to claim Sam was the father of her baby due to a photo of her son where the bedsheets looked similar to bedsheets in a photo Sam had posted. Yeah, it’s time for boundaries!

As for why she didn’t publicly announce her pregnancy until the birth of her son, Caitríona explained that she simply didn’t see the value in it.

“I’m a very open person. It’s not like I was hiding my pregnancy. Everybody at work knew, all of my friends knew, anyone I came into contact with in my life knew. But in terms of putting that out there, I don’t see the value in that. I think there’s certain things that are nice to have for yourself.”

 

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While Caitríona is best known for her part as Claire Frazer in Outlander, it’s her most recent role has been earning lots of (well deserved) praise.

She starred as Ma in Keith Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, which follows a Belfast family at the beginning of The Troubles, and also stars Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench.

The film has been a hit and was even nominated for several Golden Globes.

Words by Sláine McKenna

• Caitriona Balfe
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• Outlander