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]
Cuddos to you, My Lady! Having some background in Drama and instructing young people in the art, I must agree with all you have said. I have watched all of Sam’s work that I can find and in my opinion he is amazing! We don’t cast actors strictly by looks, basic height and stature aside. Hair color and eye color is never an issue…it is normally based mostly on talent. Sam is VERRA talanted and has a great career ahead of him. I haven’t seen what you have, yet I do not doubt one word of it. Thank you for giving us Jammie and Claire. They have given me hours and hours of pleasure.
You said it! I think the casting has been amazing. Sam is a perfect Jamie. Take a look at the picture–even the horse wants to lick him. She’s probably thinking, yeah you can ride me anywhere…
2014 is going to be a great year with your new book and the series! Can’t wait.
Is it inappropriate to say, “I love you”?!! Nobody mess with Herself! I hope a few of those negative naysayers have read this and are feeling like fools.
Thank you for your wonderful intelligent wit!
Sam’s looks had me from the first moment. I thought to myself, with some makeup and a dye job, he’ll be perfect. Then, when I saw him act. I said out loud, “boy, he can act, too!” This is gonna be a GREAT production. Can’t wait.
I’m just wondering who Robyn MacGillicuddy Stimson is.
LOL! This is why I love your writing and can’t wait to watch my favorite books come to life!
Diana,
I agree with you totally!
I think it’s sad when people do nothing but complain, they didn’t write the book so how would they know what the characters look like. You are a very talented author and only you know more about the people you have written. Good for you!!! I truly believe that the actors/actresses in the series are a group of perfection that will surprise us all with their talent as you did with the series. BRAVO to you beautiful lady.
Having been an actor off and on for many years I understand exactly what you are saying. Hair , makeup and costuming can make someone look the part but if they do not have the chops to BE the person they are portraying you might as well not waste your money. I think they made a wise choice in choosing Sam H. especially if the AUTHOR of the books thinks he portrays the character well. Oh and Diana you can send the dollar to…. LOL
I absolutely loved reading this, and wish I could post it on every page where I have read people complaining about Jamie. And Claire. And Geillis. And everyone else for that matter.
But as the most crazy of the craziness has been posted re: Sam as Jamie, all I’ve want to say to them is… “Wait until you watch the show!! If any of us had to pick the perfect person for any role in any of our favorite shows/movies, we would have undoubtedly picked the wrong person. Because we would have gone for the look – but the casting directors go for the whole package. So just trust them!”
When I heard your comment re: how you saw him at first (I totally agreed with that) and then how you reacted just seconds into his screen test, that was enough… I’ve told more people than I can count, he was your Jamie first, and if _you_ say he’s Jamie, then that should be it.
I am sooo excited… I feel like I’ve waited since the first book for this, and think it is going to be amazing. (And I’m figuring that there are more of us trusting in the process going on than naysayers. It will be their loss if they give up on it before it’s even finished.) I am so glad you posted this, and hope everyone sees it!!
AMEN Diana! I am so tired of the naysayers! I am sure that once the series airs, you will be able to say “I told you so”. I am 100% behind Sam as Jamie and I cannot wait to see Jamie come to life.
BEST.RESPONSE.TO.THE.NAYSAYERS.EVER!!!!! And I think the horse in the photo above JUST about sums it up….. LOL!!!
Thank you for being the voice of reason, Diana. There are so many of us that are just so beyond thrilled with Sam as Jamie, all the cast, the fabulous production and all it entails, that we needn’t worry about the ones who aren’t with us. They can just keep reading the books. We’ll watch the TV series and everyone will be happy!
Diana – you nailed it!!
He’s your Jamie and you should know. We’re really just the observers. Delighted observers but just observers.
I think that dollar is well and truly safe!
Right on, Amen, and thank you!
Dearest Diana,
I give you so much credit for doing this Again!
Who on this Earth thinks they know better than you, the creator of Jamie Fraser,
who he truly is and how he should appear.
You have the patience of a Saint and then some.
I love you too. And I hope this finally puts all of this nonsense to rest for good and all.
You crack me up as I have been thinking the same thing about all of those people who do not
think Sam can be Jamie – personally I think he IS Jamie – However when you said that STARZ would
just stop all filming because OMG!! so and so doesn’t think Sam is Jamie I nearly fell off the bed
I was laughing so hard I could barely see for the tears running down my face!! I have been silently
thinking the same thing. Do those people truly think they know more than you and Ron and STARZ?
You are the most amazing author and most of your fans are basically sane.
You are truly a wonderful author who understands history, life, and the characters to whom you have given birth and let take on a life of their own. There is no one else like you and could never be anyone who even comes close to you. I taught myself to read before I was 4 and have been reading everything I could get my hands on since, especially history and time travel. There should be a whole section that just says “Diana Gabaldon” as there is not another author – book or screenplay – who researches and understands her people the way you do. I am hoping that smoky quartz brings you the luck and blessings of Scotland as it is the national Gemstone of Scotland. I should make something for Caitriona and Sam and hopefully it will stop all of this total nonsense. You are amazing to take the time from MOBY to deal with what is basically nonsense.
My Love and all of the best to you always,(kisses to your little puppy boys too!)
Always,
Susan Berkoff
I would NEVER dare to ask for Chris Hemsworth!! Sam’s my absolute favorite. Lov’ him as Jamie and can’t wait to see the show! Excited greetings!
Well said, Claire!! I have been wondering also why people complains…we all have “our” Jamie in the books and I think you explained it very well, when saying that Sam is an actor. I’m totally sure that all characters will do their best and if someone don’t like it… Hey! You can always turn the TV off…! We still have the books, don’t we? I’m so looking forward to see it all come “alive”.
Oh, I do love your humor. You never fail to make me laugh!!! I am looking forward to MOBY, the STARZ series, seeing Jamie and Claire interacting! It’s true that we all see someone different in our minds eye when reading of these characters. Jamie will now and forever always be SAM and Nobody else but Sam. That being said, I just pictured MY own, personal, hero Jamie looking like Chris Hemsworth! HA! I do NOT see him as JAMMF. I just like to look at and fantasize about Chris.
Because, I can. Hell, why NOT!{g}
If DIANNA approves of the cast that is chosen ..great.. as she said ,she wrote the books…who better than her to say what those wonderful characters look like ………………….