Outlander actor Sam Heughan was ‘born to play Jamie Fraser’ says hit show’s executive producer

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Outlander star Sam Heughan ‘jumped off the screen’ at his audition as he was ‘born to play Jamie Fraser’, according to the executive producer of Starz hit time-travel series.

In a clip from The Outlander: Season 6 Collector's Edition set, Blu-ray, available to buy now, Maril Davis explains why Scottish actor Heughan, who has played the much-loved Highland warrior since the series’ inception in 2014, was the only actor for the role.

“I remember we were at our offices in Pasadena,” Davis recalls in the clip. “You're watching tapes and on the first round of casting, Sam's audition tape came up and we watched it, and we all realiaed in that moment that this was our Jamie.

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“And all along we assumed we'd never find him. It was like a needle in a haystack. He just popped out right away.

Sam Heughan was born to play Jamie Fraser in Outlander says the show's executive producer.Sam Heughan was born to play Jamie Fraser in Outlander says the show's executive producer.
Sam Heughan was born to play Jamie Fraser in Outlander says the show's executive producer.

“He wasn't anyone that any of us had seen before. We instantly knew he had the charisma, he had the charm, he had the humour to play Jamie.

“And then we did a video conference with him and immediately, he just jumped off the screen.

“Sometimes in this life, there are certain actors out there who were born to play certain parts and Sam Heughan was born to play Jamie Fraser.”

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The 42-year-old star was asked the question in aninterview with men's luxury lifestyle magazine Square Mile.

He admitted it’s something he's been thinking a lot about recently, with rumours Outlander’s seventh, which is set to air in May 2023, could be the last.

“What will I miss? I’ll miss the camaraderie, the people, the routine,” he said.

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“The routine is pretty tough, pretty full on. But there’s something wonderful about it, going to work every day, you know you all are going to be fucked but the end.

“It’s hard work, it’s full on, but you’re all in it together.

“So I guess that camaraderie and being around people you enjoy being around.”

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