Sam Heughan Is a Babygirl
He just doesn't know it yet.
Sam Heughan is in that rarefied space occupied by the likes of Mariska Hargitay and Larry David, actors who have played a beloved character on television for over a decade. Heughan stepped into the role of Jamie Fraser in Outlander in the summer of 2014 and recently wrapped filming on the show’s eighth (and final) season. The show, based on the book series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon, was renewed for a second season after the pilot episode aired — a rare distinction and achievement for a show — and never loosened its grip on its devout and vocal fandom. “Early buzz was deafening — and it has never let up,” one critic wrote, calling it “the ecstatic moan heard round the world.” Helping to conjure that moan from day one was Heughan, a leading man in waiting who was able to fully realize his potential through the role.
“He plays him perfectly,” my friend Fallon, a card-carrying Outlander superfan told me when I mentioned I was interviewing him.
“Jamie is the king of men. Such huge shoes to fill and he does it with ease. Sam is Jamie. You know when an actor is so good all you can see is the character? That is how he is with Jamie. As if he was born to play it. It actually feels like he's acting when he's being Sam.”
Now Heughan is expanding his repertoire and taking on his next role in the new Starz series, The Couple Next Door, a psychological thriller which sees Heughan in the role of Danny, one half of a couple who develop a fast friendship — at first — with a couple that’s new to their neighborhood. Bum bum bum. It’s fair to say that things take a sinister turn expeditiously, and thus the thrills.
Below, a chat with Heughan about both series, letting go of Jamie Fraser, whether he thinks Scots deserve the attention Americans laud onto the Irish and his reaction to Wicked — and whether we’ll see him starring in a musical of his own one day.
Before I get down to business, I do want to ask: 2024 was the year of the mainstreaming of the babygirl. Do you identify as a babygirl?
As a babygirl? I have to admit, I have no idea what you're talking about right now. I'll just tell you why. I was filming our last season of Outlander, and then I guess I was in Nepal, so it kind of passed me by. And I know there's a lot that I need to catch up on, but I can’t yet, so maybe one day I will identify as a babygirl.
Very glad to hear it. Thank you for the open heartedness around that important subject. You’ve been playing Jamie Fraser on Outlander for over a decade. It’s so rare to play a single character over such a long period, and even rarer to play the character concurrently while you take on other roles, like this one. Is it hard for you to turn off Jamie?
Uh, no. I mean, I'm very lucky that I have played that character for a long time, actually, 11 years. And, you know, I was very lucky that I had a bit of time off between seasons where I could go shoot in the Netherlands and in Belgium with this amazing crew, and play a completely different character. But I guess it was weird going back, especially to the final season of Outlander, because there was such a break. And there are certainly times when you're like, “Can I even remember what the accent is?” But Danny in The Couple Next Door was a welcome change. I got to wear a T-shirt, Evan. I got to wear a leather jacket and have no wig, no ginger wig, no kilt, no horses. It was kind of refreshing to play something completely different.
I’m curious how you would describe your character Danny, because there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye, especially when we’re first introduced to him. He appears quite mysterious and a little mischievous at the outset.
I think that’s the initial impression that people get, certainly, but his neighbors get that he's a bit of an alpha male; you know, he's a cop. They don't really trust him. He's beating his chest, in a metaphorical sense. But you know, he's actually got a lot more depth to him. I think he morally makes wrong choices. As I said, he's a cop. He should know these things, but his heart is in the right place. And I think by the end of the show, you'll realize that. But yes, some of his choices are questionable.
There’s been a lot of discussion online about the role of intimacy coordinators. You famously brought one on in Season 6 of Outlander. I’m wondering if you can offer some perspective to those outside of the industry who purport to have strong feelings on the subject without perhaps knowing the minutiae of the role of an intimacy coordinator and how it impacts you, the actor.
It’s super important. The industry has changed a great deal over the time that I've been in it. For Outlander — 11 years, and the show and the industry were in a different place. We were very lucky to bring in Vanessa Coffey to join us on Outlander. It really helped us facilitate and not only protected us as the actors, but also the crew, and helped us dig into what this intimate relationship is, and what it says about your characters and how they interact. And I actually then brought her onto The Couple Next Door, because, again, that also has a lot of scenes that we really wanted to explore. You know, these couples that are in open relationships — how does that work? And how do they express themselves? But also, yeah, make it easier or more comfortable for the actor to give a better performance, and I think it's been a great addition to the industry, and hopefully people will agree when they watch the shows.
I was wondering what your reaction was to the Celine Dion documentary released a few months back. I ask because you two appeared together in Love Again which was being made at the time the doc was being filmed.
I haven't been able to watch it yet, but I would love to and I mean, she's just such an icon. She's such an amazing character, and her music is known universally, and I’m just happy to see her perform again, back doing what she loves. It was really odd to be part of that and what she was going through. But I think love for Celine is universal, and that's what hopefully people got from this movie. It was a bit of a love letter about this couple, but also about Celine Dion, using her music, using her lyrics. What an amazing person.
I have to ask you about your 2023 WWHL appearance in which Andy Cohen asked you what physically gets your attention in prospective lovers. You responded by saying, “I like if they can pick me up and throw me somewhere.” If you could be thrown around by any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Wonder Woman is probably the obvious, or female Shrek — Fiona. I don't know. She's into Scotsmen, so she might dig me!
Irish men are having a moment culturally (Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott, Barry Keoghan, Jamie Dornan). Do you think Scots like yourself deserve more attention?
We're letting the Irish have a moment. I mean, the Scots were there before. We had Gerard Butler and Ewan McGregor and Sean Connery. I mean, the Irish needed a moment. But no, we're kindred spirits, and we're brothers, and the Scots and the Irish are always, always very close. And I love that there's so many great new leading men around. So, yeah, gotta love a man with an accent, right?
What is one TV show we’d be surprised to hear that you love?
You’d be surprised to hear that I love 90 Day Fiancé. I love Below Deck, so I'm kind of into that stuff. I get wrapped up in it, and then I can't stop watching.
What is one musical artist we’d be surprised to hear that you love?
I don't wear headphones, really. I'm one of those people, and they're a bit weird, right? But I don't listen to music in the gym. Call me crazy, but going in the gym with some headphones and a tripod? I'm like, come on guys. Let's go back to basics. I want a singlet, maybe a little bit of side nipple — I’m talking about the guys here — baggy shorts, and let's go there and do what we're supposed to be doing. We're not making a movie in the gym here or content. We're here to work out. So I'm gonna get off my soapbox about that.
With Outlander now finished filming, besides other projects, what do you want to spend your time doing? Is there anything that the grueling schedule of this show kept you from learning or exploring that you might not have the time for?
That’s a good question. I mean, it was all-consuming. And I finished the show, and I fulfilled a lifelong dream, and I went to Nepal, and I went to see Everest, and did this two-week hike, which was incredible. I'd love to learn a language and travel more, but also just have a bit more spare time to go to the gym and be a blank canvas and let out some darkness. I don't know.
The Couple Next Door and Outlander are two very different genres. Is there any other genre that you are eager to explore down the line?
Oh, yes. I'm now able to do other stuff. Outlander has been incredible, but it has been such a busy schedule that it's been hard to do multiple other projects. So I would love to explore something completely different. Whether it's a sci fi, which I really love, maybe something more historical or period, or modern action, or perhaps even a ridiculous comedy. Who knows! I would be open to anything, really. And there's so much going on, especially in Scotland, actually, but all over Europe. When we were in Belgium, there was lots shooting in Europe, so I don't know. I'm waiting to see the next challenge and the next thing that's going to really guide me.
What about a musical? Would we ever see you in a musical?
Look, I'm never going to say never! I just went to see Wicked and obviously loved it. It was amazing, though I think I would rather see it on stage. You know, I love the stage. That's where I came from. So maybe something along those lines, but I don't think anyone would pay to hear me sing. [Laughs]
You are a cocktail connoisseur with your own spirit brand and a cocktail book coming out later this year. If and when we hang out IRL, what are you making me?
I would start by guessing what kind of person you are, if you like spirit-forward, or if you like something a bit more fancy, perhaps. Evan, I think you would like a Morning Glory.