Photo:David Livingston/Getty
David Livingston/Getty
Fans ofOutlanderhave fallen in love withSam HeughanandCaitriona Balfesince the Starz series premiered in 2014.
For six seasons, the aforementioned costars — who play Jamie and Claire, respectively — have captured the hearts of viewers with their on-screen chemistry.
Though they play husband and wife on the drama based on Diana Gabaldon’s novel of the same name, offscreen they have a close platonic relationship. The costars have created a tight bond since meeting on set and have spoken highly of their friendship over the years, in addition to their admiration of each other’s talents while working on set.
“We just started chatting in the [chemistry] test before we started the audition, and we just seemed to get on,” Heughan said of Balfe during an interview withEW.“Her humor is fantastic. She’s great fun to work with. She’s very hardworking, a wonderful actress, very natural.”
And Balfe feels the same towards Heughan. “We’re really good friends,” she told PEOPLE when the series first premiered. “We’re both going through the same experience, so that’s great, we both really understand that. I hope I’m as good support as he is to me.”
Though the Starz series is coming to an end with therecently announced eighth and final season, it’s likely their friendship will stand the test of time.
Read on for a look back at their friendship ahead of theOutlanderseason 7premiere on June 16.
January 8, 2014: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe make their red carpet debut
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Ahead of theOutlanderseason 1 premiere, Heughan and Balfe made their first-ever red carpet appearance together to support a fellow Starz program,Black Sails, at its season 1 premiere held at the Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood.
January 10, 2014: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe speak at the Winter TCA panel
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Gearing up for the release ofOutlander, Heughan and Balfe teased what viewers could expect during theOutlanderpanel discussion at the Starz portion of the Winter Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, California.
January 11, 2014: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend the BAFTA Tea Party
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“Whether you’re a fan of the books or not, you’ll watch the show and be hooked,” Heughan said on the red carpet ahead of the release.
July 28, 2014: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend a screening ofOutlander
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The chemistry between theOutlander’s cast can surely be felt through the screen, but it was nonetheless visible on the red carpet at the season 1 screening held at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Costars Heughan andTobias Menziessandwiched Balfe with a kiss on both cheeks as they posed for photos just days before theOutlander’s Aug. 9 premiere.
January 7, 2015: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe win a People’s Choice Awards
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In 2015, Heughan and Balfe nabbed a win at the People’s Choice Awards for their work inOutlander. Although they couldn’t make it to the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles to accept the honor in person, they expressed their gratitude in ahilarious videothat played during the ceremony.
April 1, 2015: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlandermidseason premiere
Heughan and Balfe celebrated theOutlandermidseason premiere in N.Y.C. andopened up to PEOPLEon the red carpet about their on and off-screen relationship. “We’re really lucky,” Heughan said of getting to work with Balfe.
“We obviously just had a really long period of time off the show, but we caught up a couple of times in L.A. and went hiking together," he added of meeting up with his on-screen wife. “It’s really nice just to catch up with her… I’m glad she’s doing so well.”
Meanwhile, Balfe had nothing but sweet, platonic sentiments to share about Heughan. “We’re really good friends,” she told PEOPLE. “We’re both going through the same experience, so that’s great, we both really understand that. I hope I’m as good support as he is to me.”
April 2, 2015: Caitriona Balfe recalls the first time she met Sam Heughan
During an interview withThe Wrap, Balfe recalled her first impression of Heughan. “[The chemistry] was quite instantaneous in a sense,” she said.
“When I first met Sam at our chemistry test, which I always think is quite funny, he was the nicest guy and he just put me at ease. I was a little nervous and he’s just that kind of solid, grounded guy,” Balfe continued.
“We had one day in London and we took this big, long walk in Hyde Park, and it was great. We just talked about our lives and sort of about the characters and what we thought and that day I was like, ‘This is going to be great. I feel like I’ve got a really solid friend and amazing costar.’ So, I knew it was going to be good stuff,” she concluded.
July 11, 2015: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend San Diego Comic-Con
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Heughan and Balfe were nothing but laughs and smiles on the red carpet during San Diego Comic-Con in 2015.
January 10, 2016: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend the Golden Globes
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TheOutlandercostars dressed to the nines when they hit the red carpet at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2016. They coordinated in black outfits, with Heughan wearing a classic tuxedo and Balfe dressed in an all-black ruffle gown.
March 2, 2016: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe address dating rumors
Ahead of theOutlanderseason 2 premiere, Heughan and Balfeaddressed the relentless romance rumorsthat had spread between them in anEWcover story. While their palpable, on-screen chemistry is one of the reasons why fans are drawn to the series, the two leads clarified their off-screen relationship.
“Honestly I’m tired of that conversation,” Balfe told the outlet. “This is fantasy. This is our job. We are very different in our private life. We are best friends. From the moment we met, we got along. Sam is one of the most generous people you’ll ever meet. Such a great guy, no ego involved.”
Heughan, in fact, said he felt bad that some fans seem genuinely let down that they aren’t in a romantic relationship. “It saddens me a bit but I guess that means we’ve done a good job,” he added. “I don’t know. It’s a strange one. I’m still coming to terms with what it’s like to have people follow your personal life as well as your public life. It gets amusing. But she’s just wonderful. We’re very good friends.”
April 4, 2016: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlanderseason 2 world premiere
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Two years after the inagural season premiered in 2014,Outlanderseason 2 was released. In honor of the new season, Heughan and Balfe stepped out for the world premiere held at the American Museum of Natural History in N.Y.C.
May 2, 2016: Caitriona Balfe talks about her on-screen sex scenes with Sam Heughan
During an appearance on Taylor Strecker’s SiriusXM radio show,Wake Up with Taylor, Balfe explained why sheisn’t likely to fall in love with her costardespite their hot-and-heavy sex scenes — and as it turns out, those scenes aren’t actually as steamy as they look.
“Well, I mean, for me I think it’s quite easy not to develop feelings like that because it’s acting, right?” said Balfe. “You know, I feel very lucky, Sam and I have an amazing bond, we’re really great friends — but, you know, it’s acting.”
“You’re usually doing those scenes in front of about 20 people, mostly burly, sweaty men whose jeans are like halfway down their bum crack,” she said with a laugh. “So it’s quite easy not to get carried away! We call it plumber’s butt in Ireland."
October 27, 2016: Sam Heughan praises Caitriona Balfe’s talents
“It’s always hard when we’re apart, actually, because she’s a great person, great to come to work with, and a very good actress,” Heughan toldVanity Fairof walking alongside Balfe inOutlander.
July 21, 2017: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend San Diego Comic-Con
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TheOutlandercostars had some fun when they returned to San Diego Comic-Con, exchanging witty banter while answering questions on the IMDb Yach in 2017. This interaction emphasized Heughan toldPopsugarof his relationship with his costar earlier in July.
Earlier in July, Heughan reflected on his friendship with Balfe toPOPSUGAR, saying, “Caitriona and I get on very well, and I’m very lucky. She’s extremely talented and an extremely nice person, and we have a lot of fun.”
“Actually, having scenes away from her, and time apart from her, is kind of like losing someone in your family,” he continued. “A loved one. It’s very strange, and I don’t enjoy it. Whenever we’re together it feels right, and I look forward to the days when we get to work together again.”
September 5, 2017: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlanderseason 3 world premiere
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Heughan and Balfe posed alongside one another at the world premiere ofOutlanderseason 3 in N.Y.C. Prior to the release, the costars opened up about their special “bond” duringan interview withElle.
“I mean, Sam’s just so kind,” Balfe said of her on-screen husband in real life. “He’s a really good friend. He always checks in. I don’t know, he has one of the biggest hearts and smallest egos that I know.”
Heughan seconded that sentiment, saying, “She’s not only a great actress, she’s a great friend and a great advice giver, too. And we have each other’s backs. It’s a remarkable journey that we’ve been on, starting this together, being thrown in the deep end.”
October 28, 2018: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe celebrateOutlanderseason 4
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TheOutlandercostars stepped out for the 21st SCAD Savannah Film Festival red carpet in Georgia ahead of the show’s season 4 premiere on Nov. 4, 2018.
October 5, 2019: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend New York Comic-Con
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Heughan and Balfe spoke onstage during anOutlanderpanel at the 2019 New York Comic Con where they discussed the show and answered fan questions.
February 13, 2020: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlanderseason 5 premiere
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The two leads, along with the rest of the cast, attended the Los Angeles premiere ofOutlanderseason 5 at the Hollywood Palladium in California. Later in June 2020, Heughan joked about his sibling-like relationship with Balfe.
“She’s like my sister and tells me exactly what I’m doing wrong and I need to know these things!” he said onThe Love/Hate Clubpodcast.
March 9, 2022: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlanderseason 6 premiere
To celebrate the season 6 premiere ofOutlander, Heughan and Balfe hit the red carpet at the Wolf Theater at the Television Academy in North Hollywood ahead of the screening.
June 9, 2023: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attend theOutlanderseason 7 world premiere
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Ahead of the June 16 release on Starz, Heughan and Balfe attended theOutlanderseason 7world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in N.Y.C. The pair even posed alongside the cast in PEOPLE and EW’sexclusive on-site photobooth.
source: people.com
