'Outlander' Stars Caitríona Balfe & Sam Heughan Talk Chemistry, First Impressions & the Future

For Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan, their time-traveling adventure together began in 2013, when they were cast 11 years ago as the iconic Claire and Jamie Fraser, who first came to life in Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling Outlander book series more than 25 years ago. Now, 9 books later, and 7 seasons and counting, the duo dropped by the SheKnows studio to reflect on their journey together, first impressions, best moments from season 7, what they’re most excited and nervous about for the future, the bittersweet end to their filming days, and the dreaded end of Outlander (*cries loudly).

Outlander wrapped filming for their eighth and final season in November. In October, Balfe, Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin and John Bell dropped by the studio for their cover shoot with SheKnows and TVLine and celebrated their show and each other.

Heughan and Balfe first were sent to an Outlander boot camp when they were cast. It’s not as bad as it sounds, or maybe it was! Heughan was taught how to speak Gaelic, horse ride, and fight like Jamie Fraser. Balfe spent a lot of time in fittings, and filming with her other on-screen husband.

Heughan says he sort of felt like the “second husband,” but he thinks they wanted to “save the special sauce,” alluding to the chemistry between the two that Outlander is now famous for, until Claire and Jamie first met, which was also when they first started filming together.

Balfe revealed that before they started filming, they had a special day together in London, where they got their hair done, and walked around together. As for first impressions, Balfe called Heughan out on what he said to her the first time he saw her on camera. Heughan whispered under his breath, “Eleven years and she still remembers…” He told Balfe she looked “mature, like older on screen on camera.” Caitríona Balfe might be a time-traveler too, because she pulled that little artifact up so fast, Heughan’s head spun. So he tries to rectify the past, but then says, “It’s true!” (The apology goes awry). He continues with some help, “You look beautiful on camera!” He then really made up for it by telling her that if he could give Caitríona from 2013 any piece of advice, he’d say nothing! “What would I say to younger you? That you do nothing, because you are going to be spectacular in this role!” He got Balfe and us with that one. Phew.

Watch the exclusive video to find out what Balfe and Heughan love most about season 7 and how they feel about not only Jamie and Claire being separated, but their own “conscious uncoupling” as Balfe quips, with the end of filming their timeless show that will go down history, and then come back to the future! It will never really be over, because it’s streaming forever.

Read the exclusive cover story here for more in-depth conversations with Caitríona Balfe, Sophie Skelton and John Bell about working together with Sam Heughan and Richard Rankin.

Before you go, check out the all-time best ‘Outlander’ episodes you need to watch.