Friday, September 6, 2013

Sam Heughan Cast as Jamie Fraser


Jamie Fraser, a strapping young Scottish clan lord with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humour, strikes up a passionate affair with Claire Randall, a married combat nurse mysteriously swept back in time to 1743.  Armed with sheer grit and enduring strength, he is intelligent, principled, educated, and worldly, with a tenderness and compassion which stands out in contrast to his contemporaries.  Although a natural leader of men, Jamie has no personal political ambitions or desire for battlefield glories.  Instead, the escaped convict is determined to prove his innocence and remove the bounty on his head, in order to return to his family's lands of Lallybroch.

Heughan, a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, was a 2003 nominee for the Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performance for his work in the program.  His film credits include Small Moments, Alexander the Great from Macedinia, and Emulsion.  His stage credits include the original role of Batman the international tour company of the DC/Warner Bros./Waterlane production of Batman Live, King John, Romeo and Juliet, The Vortex, Hamlet, Macbeth, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.  His television credits include River City, Island at War, Any Human Heart, A Very British Sex Scandal, First Light, A Princess for Christmas, for which he was nominated for a Grace Award, and Doctors, for which he was nominated for the British Soap Award of 'Villain of the Year'.

9 comments:

  1. I am truly sorry, but, even with the new photos of Heughan attempting to look like a macho man, I cannot see him as Jamie. Sorry. Hope his acting will be convincing. It will be a chore to go past the face, though.

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  2. Have faith in the *magic*! Others have expressed this same concern, and hopefully the production crew (and Sam) are taking notes and adjusting accordingly. I really quite like this image: the eyes 'burn' with the intensity I associate with Jamie Fraser.

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  3. Seriously? What 'burn'? I agree with the above poster it will be a chore getting past Heughan's face. Is the new picture supposed to make him look fierce? He looks more like a runway model with the affected/effeminate raised collar and mussed hair instead of our fierce and noble Highlander. By St. Brides I hope the acting and so-called magic makes up for the pissy looking pouty mouth.

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    1. Please, tell us how you really feel! *g* Seriously, though, please do post what you think, regardless of whether it is PC in the OL-universe or not. You express, quite succinctly, the concerns you have with Heughan portraying 'our fierce and noble Highlander'. Many others feel the same, and you are welcome to voice your opinions here on the OBC blog or on the OBC forum.

      ~Laura

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  4. Hear, hear. . . Outlander Book Club is absolutely correct, we are all entitled to an opinion, whether it is popular or not. Quite a few fans are not happy with the selection of Sam Heughan, some perhaps are less vocal (wink and a smile) and less daring. Regardless, come on over and join the discussion at Outlander Book Club, where all opinions are valid and respected.

    Victoria

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  5. I have never had a definitive Jamie in my mind although in the mid 1990s Gerry Butler seemed to be the one who came close....However, I'm more than happy with Sam Heughan, in fact, I'm doing a little happy dance - can't wait to see him in *ahem* action !

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  6. I too didn't see Jamie when first presented with Sam's pictures. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if Diana sees the esscence of her character in this man, then he has what it takes!... he's just so pretty lol!

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  7. While reading the books, I often thought about who would make a great Jamie Fraser. While I have seen Sam Heughan in television and movies, he never came to mind. However, he is the PERFECT Jamie Fraser. Not only is he a Scot who embodies all the great physical features of Diana's Jamie, but his relative anonymity in North America also makes him intriging. In additon, he can act!! Great choice!!

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    1. I totally agree. Sam incarnates Jamie perfectly and acts so well ! His eyes, his smile, his quiet strength, his beauty, his sense of humor .. it makes a perfect Jamie

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