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]
I have personally loved the thought of Sam as Jamie. I always hated the ideas other threw around about Gerard or Chris Hemsworth. They aren’t Jamie Material. I’ve seen other work that Sam did before I found out about his casting. I think he’s perfect for the role! Jamie needs to be someone that is attractive, yes, but also relatable. He is just an everyday lad, that grows to become someone that is a respected and powerful leader. I think it will be wonderful to watch as Sam creates Jamie for us. Also, thank you for confirming that the spanking scene is going to be shown. Haha. I was wondering about that.
Oh For The Love Of Everything, Ms. G. You are Too Much. This. Was. Awesome. Thank you, and #Respect
Love your post! It’s simply perfect as everything you write! This will be a fantastic series, no doubt about it. I have been following everything about it, web pages, Facebook, Twitter, press releases, and everything I read shows great professionalism and care, as your books deserve. I’m very happy for you – and for me as a fan too – to be able to be part of the creation of this series and I wish it the best success! Thank you!
I’m so glad you said something about this! I think the casting is great and Sam is PERFECT!! I was feeling bad for him! So much negitive thought! I have so many clients reading your books! You are awesome!!
I trust you you created Jane and I fell in love with his character. I am an actress and it is the actors job to creat that character using themselfs. Know I feel casting is very important the person has to fit age,body type to be believed but from that point it falls on the actor and director. Jamie as to be in Sam it is his job to find him. From what you have said he has done that. I can’t wait. It is a prosses that actors go through. I remember seeing Wit on stage it was the best stage performance I hav ever seen. The actress never left the stage yet I saw her become sick and lose weight right before my eyes it was magic. Just like you created majic with your character and stories. I hope some day you now it to Northern California some day .
I agree with Beth and April above! Amen. You. Are. The. Author. and. Owner. Your word that it felt right should be enough! It is for me! Thanks much for sharing so much of yourself with your fans – I certainly appreciate it!
I ignore the naysayers! I feel it in my bones, this is a fabulous cast, with awesome material and it’s going to be EPIC!
As far as added traffic I know I’m checking your blog, twitter and the like because you are so engaging and entertaining! I love the rapport between you and the cast. I also love the bantering back and forth of Sam, Cait, Donas. You all make me smile and make the days pass quicker until we can get Starz Outlander and MOBY
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m thrilled to see your vision coming to pass. And for me, all it took was that one “Come on, Sassenach” in the clip shown in NY to convince me Starz has the right man in the role. Saving my pennies for my Starz subscription to start!
I am just so happy that everything is unfolding as it should and that very soon we will be able to enjoy your art on the screen as well as the page!
Thank you Diana! Thank you Starz!
PERFECTLY stated, Diana! I completely agree that a good actor can make magic happen. And I believe that Sam will be the absolute best Jamie anyone could hope for. Once you said that he was the right man for the job – that’s all I needed.
Had to say this again even though I said it on facebook
I absolutely LOVED that – um – ahem – diatribe? You shouldn’t have to take the time to go through all that but it sure is fun to ‘hear’ you do it!
I have been reading and loving your books since Outlander was published in 1991, as has my daughter. Now, my oldest granddaughter (21yrs) is reading Outlander. I am a voracious reader and Outlander is my all time favorite series. Having said that, I am elated about the television adaptation of your book, and have loved Sam as Jamie from the start. I am a bit bemused to find I have become a “fan girl” for the first time in my life! I am a proud Heughligan, which my husband finds quite amusing. So, thanks so much for this post, and hope to see you again next time you visit Calgary.
Bravo!! I admire your patience Diana. I’ve come to adore Sam watching him in other roles since the announcement and just cant wait to see him bring Jamie into my living room each week! *squeal* Thank you. Thanks to everyone involved in bringing this much loved series to us.
*Stands up and applauds*
I read all over the place – He’s too this, and not enough of that..
Opinions are like ….. Everybody has one!
Everybody has this imagined persona in their own mind, but, at the end of the day, it’s up to the casting director!
If he nailed Jamie in your opinion, that’s good enough for me!
The books are YOUR babies!
Thanks for writing this Diana. For quite a while now I have felt quite uncomfortable at the obsessive fan behaviour. I feel deeply attached to the Outlander series and am really looking forward to watching the new series, but the seriousness to which some fans are taking it makes me feel a little embarrassed to admit I am a fan at times. I’ve had to stop reading some of the fan pages.
Anyway, well said and “here,here”!
Thanks for a wonderful series of books!
Diana,
Like many, I am a devoted fan of you and all things “Outlander.” I guess there are all types of fans as you well know, and as you said, “people are entitled to their own opinions.” Call me odd, but I really never had an opinion, but more of an indescribable joy for the fact that my favorite books of all time are being made into a TV series. I also had faith that the people involved would do everything possible to bring your beloved characters to life. As the cast was announced and more information came to light about Ron’s vision, the people involved and the shooting locations, I never once lost that faith because I could just tell that it is all going to be just fine. Diana, you have given us a priceless gift and we are so lucky to have these talented, thoughtful, imaginative people on board to raise that gift to the next level. I have had so much fun in the last few months watching the fan sites pop up and getting to know more about Sam, Caitriona, Graham and everyone else via Twitter and Facebook. “Jesus H Roosevelt Christ,” I’m following a horse, a mule and a cat on twitter already! I sincerely hope that instead of picking apart every decision made and worrying about the things that might not be just like in the books, everyone will just sit back and enjoy the ride, and yes – have a little faith that you and the Outlander “Gods” would never disappoint us!
Thank you, Diana.
I got goosebumps just from the description. I can’t wait to see it for myself.
While reading the books, of course I pictured Jamie i my own mind. MOSTLY I wanted to hear him speak. Sam has the perfect accent. And if he became Jamie for you, I’m sure he will for all of us. After all, as you say, YOU created him. And all the rest. I cannot wait to see the series. I am subscribing to Starz just for it. And I can’t wait to see where you take Jamie and Claire in the next book. God bless you Diana.
As with alot of people I’m sure, I was worried about who would be cast. My main thought was please not a Hollywood actor! Sam fits the bill, very nicely!!
Aw, Diana, the line saying Sam has “enough sex to drop anyone with functioning ovaries in their tracks” got me thinking. I don’t have functioning ovaries any more, but I’m looking forward to seeing this production as much as anyone with a functioning set!
I am very sure he’ll be smashing!
Loved your blog. I am loving Sam and as the days go by and as I see and hear more about him to me, he is Jamie. Can’t wait for the series. I have read many fantasy novels but none has moved me as much as yours have.
Jeez what is not to like about this guy. He’s dead drop gorgeous and if he can act to boot then let the filming continue and everyone sit back and enjoy the visual show! Thank you Diana for your detailed explanation.
( I can’t believe @ 58 I still can get so excited about a movie!!!)