Sam Heughan and Friend at Outlanderworld
Goodness, can’t leave you lot to your own devices for long, can I? [g] Given the amount of traffic I see in the stats for this blog and my Facebook page, I conclude that the Casting Wars are still boiling along.
Well. Look.
1) People are entitled to their own opinions. Naturally, I’d prefer these opinions to be expressed—and received—civilly, but up to you, of course. I believe in the virtues of free discourse.
2) I—of course—am likewise entitled to an opinion. [cough]
Now, my opinion is based on rather more information than most others expressed here, because
a) I created Jamie Fraser and thus—presumably–have a pretty good idea of what he really looks and acts like.
b) While I haven’t yet met Sam Heughan, I’ve seen Rather a Lot of him (about 95%, at a rough guess), both in terms of
a. Photographs, and
b. Film, and
c. Bits and pieces, like audition tapes
Naturally, everyone forms mental images while reading. Everybody. I do it when I read other people’s books, too. Now, I can’t imagine why anyone—having read OUTLANDER—would form an image of Jamie as a 7-foot tall Bozo the clown on steroids, but you know….whatever floats your boat.
Why anyone should expect a film company to a) telepathically extract your personal vision of a character and b) try to replicate that onscreen is one of the Great Mysteries of the Universe, and I’m not about to try to solve it here—I got a book to write, among other things, and there are only so many hours in the day.
So I’m just going to say This about That:
Y’all have not seen Sam Heughan “be” Jamie Fraser.
I _have_.
Now, when they told me who they’d chosen and that they were sending me the audition tapes, I was in the car, driving from Phoenix to Santa Fe with my husband. Unable to get to my computer until we got to Santa Fe, I was madly googling “Sam Heughan” on my iPhone (my husband was driving, I hasten to add).
Frankly, I thought he looked bizarre. He’s 6’3”, that’s fine…very chiseled face, but oddly chiseled, and what’s with the large forehead and cleft chin?!? Jamie doesn’t have a cleft chin and his nose is not all that long, though it _is_ straight…and good grief, I know we wanted somebody who could play a 22-year-old virgin, but this guy hardly looks like he has hair on his behind, let alone the dangly bits…but…
But.
But you know, I _do_ understand what it is that actors do.
(Do you know that, btw? What they do is magic. They can become somebody they aren’t—and their physical outline is just Really Not That Important. (Within limits. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is a long way outside those limits…).)
So I sat down at my computer, sort of looking warily through my fingers. Willing to suspend disbelief if I could, but kind of dubious, you know?
So here he is, dark-haired, in a long-sleeved gray T-shirt, and I’m thinking, “Boy, he doesn’t look _anything_ like his IMDB photos, he actually looks pretty human, that’s a relief…”
And five seconds later, Sam Heughan was GONE, and it was Jamie Fraser right there in front of me. True. No costume, no makeup, no props, nothing but cues from an offstage casting director, and…it was him.
He did two scenes. First, a confrontation with Dougal, right after Dougal’s ripped his shirt off in the tavern.
“Devil take ye, Dougal MacKenzie! I dinna owe ye that!” Blazing blue eyes, swelling shoulders, and…bam. Showed this small bit to a (male) friend recently, who blinked at the screen and said, “Man, he’s powerful!” He was.
Second scene was even better; it’s the scene where Jamie explains to Claire exactly why he’s about to punish her. [g] And he had it all: patience, seriousness, annoyance, patience, humor, menace, humor, and…enough sex to drop anyone with functioning ovaries in their tracks.
Now. In the months since then, the production people have been kind enough to show me the occasional glimpse of this or that. I _have_ seen the red hair in its full glory (it took seven tries—and 27 hours in a salon chair, I was told by the victim), and speaking as someone married to a red-head (himself Jamie’s original body model) and with two more in residence…it’s definitely the right kind of red.
Red hair—as I notice a few red-heads have been mentioning—looks Way Different, depending on the light. Unless it’s truly carroty (and Jamie’s is Definitely Not), sometimes it looks almost brown, sometimes it’s red-gold and sometimes it’s all different colors and sometimes it has almost-blond highlights and sometimes…well, let’s put it this way: it doesn’t look like Bozo the clown or Shamus the Wrestler, it looks like Real Hair, just red. (And if you really worry about this, do go and google “red deer images” and _see_ what the heck a red deer’s pelt looks like.)
But beyond the physical details (which are, um…Really Good, and decency prevents me going further, save to say that while Jamie certainly doesn’t look like Thor (gag me with a spoon), he—and Mr. Heughan—look Very Nicely Muscled indeed)….Sam Heughan can _act_. And he totally nailed it.
So. Feel perfectly free to express your own opinions. (I don’t know quite what people expect as a result. Surely they don’t figure that Starz will say, “Oh, no! Robyn MacGillicuddy Stimson thinks Chris Hemsworth should be Jamie! Get Hemsworth’s agent on the phone!” Or at least I hope they don’t think that…) You’ll change your mind in due course.
Or I’ll pay you a dollar. [g]
LOL You go girl! Sam and Jamie… both yummy!
I agree!
She said “dangly-bits” heeheehee.
What’s that old saying….. “You can please some of the people some of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time…. BUT you can’t please ALL of Jamie’s followers all of the time”!!!!! Just enjoy people! ENJOY!
Thanks for this, Diana! Like you, at first I wasn’t so sure, but now, I cannot imagine anyone else as Jamie. I think Sam will be wonderful and like everyone else, I am planning my viewing party already!
Last night, I published an article on threeifbyspace.net, where I’m reviewing/previewing the STARZ series, on why I don’t think newbies should read your wonderful books before the show is aired. I am a HUGE fan, and have read all the books multiple times, and of course, have my own ideas of what the characters look like; but I’m quite happy to suspend my own pictures to be able to enjoy what Ron Moore gives us. But to be able to enjoy the TV series, and take the images of Sam and Jamie and Catriona as Claire, and THEN read the books – that could only enhance the love one would feel for your fabulous books AND allow the reader/viewer to enjoy the TV series without reservation. The bickering is pointless and annoying. Why get all up in arms when you have no say in the issue? It only diminishes the pleasure that the books and the TV series can bring.
Thank you…thank you…thank you!!!
…and THANK YOU!!!
Beautifully, hilariously and perfectly said. As always… and just one of the many reasons I so love your books.
And thank you for taking the time to write this. I’m appalled at how certain people have expressed their thoughts on the casting. I wish more would have more of an open mind, and wait to save their judgment for when they see the show. I have no doubt that those people are going to be eating their words real quick like.
Now… next time you do a book tour, would you please consider putting Omaha, NE on your schedule?
I think he will make an awesome Jamie and I totally agree with the remark that the author knows best what the character should look like in real life! What she says about red hair is correct too. Mine goes anywhere from blonde, gold,red, brown and between just depending on the lighting and what colors I’m wearing.
HA! Love it. Thank you, once again, for making things clear. I can ‘t wait to see him (and the rest of the cast) on the TV screen!
I think he’s perfect.
I’m a grown woman with a respectable job and I nearly passed out when they released that Sam in costume picture the other day.
I’m a grown woman in a loving marriage and I squealed like Sam was Shawn Cassidy circa 1978 when they released the behind the scenes video.
I’m a grown woman with grown children and I pouted when Sam didn’t follow me back on Twitter (@laughitoff Sam you can still change your mind I hold no grudges).
I am 100% Team Sam!!
Diana,
As you are the mighty Creator of our beloved Jamie, why would anyone bother arguing with Herself? If Sam fits your vision, and he nailed it in performing Jamie, then that is wonderful! For myself, I have always wanted a relatively unknown (at least in the States) actor to play him. Someone very recognizable would be typecast and ruin the whole thing because viewers would be distracted and not pay attention to the wonderful storytelling going on. Viewers would be comparing to other portrayals and not “getting” it. Outlanderlovers like myself (I’ve used that screen name often) will be comparing the screen version of Jamie to the book version enough as it is. I can’t wait to see the chemistry between Sam and Catriona.
So excited to see this!!! Really hope it makes it down to Australia. I trust your judgement Diana, after all you did create this magical, manly, mythical creature we all fell madly in love with!
So excited to read the next installment in the series, will start reading from the beginning this Xmas as I have done every year since I read Cross Stitch in 1997! I LOVE the books and can not get enough of them, they saw me through some very tough times and kept me going. You are a magical storyteller, don’t ever stop!!
Love and grateful hugs
xxxxxxxx
Oh my. You are a saint to do this… once again… to try and verbally slap sense into the naysayers. I’m sure the majority of fans are willing to take you at your word (well, you’d think so). Mama says Sam is Jamie. Mama is always right. For crying out loud. If YOU saw Jamie. Nuff said. I just don’t get it.
Brilliant! If he’s good enough for you, then I love him!
I trust your judgement completely. You know who your Jamie is and I’m sure Sam will do Jamie proud!
AMAZING is the first word I thought when I read your commentary!! If you say that Sam (red hair or not) is Jamie that’s enough for me! You created that amazing story about the life of 2 person and the consequence that come with the choices they made through life and their love. I’ve been reading this book since I was 15 yrs old and this book was always my go-to book for everything! If you said that they cast the right Jamie and Claire all will be perfect for me because you wrote an amazingly awesome love story than now will become a awesome TV show and there’s nothing more to add!!!
YOU NAILED IT!
Thanks!
Well said, Diana! I have only been a fan for a couple years now. And couldn’t really picture any actors or actresses as these beloved characters yet. And so far, I’m happy with the cast so far. I totally trust you and everybody at Starz! Its going to be an amazing show.
This is why I am so glad that we get your perspective. What you wrote gave me the (good) shivers. My belief is that YOU created the characters so if Sam and others ARE the characters to you, then that is perfect. Every time I read how much you support Sam in this role my excitement grows!
Diana, you are the best. Thank you. That fact that you take time out of your crazy-busy schedule to respond to the casting insanity is amazing. Most important to me is that this series is ACTUALLY being brought to the screen, and I want it to stay there for many years. Your vision of Jamie is the man we all have fallen in love with, and if you say Sam is JAMMF, I CANNA WAIT to see it myself! Happy thoughts for Final Frenzy- keep doing what you’re doing!! <3