Claire is the hardest of the Outlander characters to cast. In fact, finding an actress to play Claire is quite possibly the most daunting part of character casting. The success of the entire movie depends upon finding the right Claire since she has the pivotal role of the narrator. In the book, Claire is described as a fine-featured English Rose, but what sets Claire apart as an unforgettable heroine is her fiery personality and biting wit. Oh, I’m aware that other “romance novels” claim to carry headstrong heroines, but more often than not these spitfires usually end up as whiny damsels in distress. Claire is genuinely an interesting and evolved character. She killed a wolf with her bare hands, grew her own penicillin, and at age fifty, survived a gang rape and then broke and reset her own nose without so much as a whimper…need I say more? (Is it me or does the plot sound quite over-the-top now? No matter, it’s still enjoyable).
So the actress chosen to play Claire has large shoes to fill. Not only must she be beautiful, but she has to smolder. We, the audience, must root for her in the same way that audiences of Gone with the Wind rooted for Scarlet O’Hara.
Rachel Weiss and Kate Beckinsale are the most popular choices on YouTube so far. Rachel Weiss was chosen because she has that timeless English Rose beauty. And if I were to take a wild guess, the vast amount of Kate Beckinsale 1940’s screen captures on the internet makes it easy to cast her as Claire.
If I had it my way, the role of Claire would go to a relatively unknown actress. I’m too distracted by big names; A-list movie stars take away from the picture. How many times have I sat through a Tom Cruise movie and been unable to visualize him as his character because I can’t see pass his celebrity. Maybe I’m being unrealistic, but I really want to watch Outlander (will that day never come?) and actually believe the actress on screen is Claire and not Kate Beckinsale reprising her Pearl Harbor role of the WWII nurse with the heart of gold.
For the moment, I think British actress Ruth Wilson would be perfect for Claire. Since she played the coveted role of Jane Eyre in the 2006 BBC adaptation, she’s proved that she certainly has the screen presence to carry a movie. What I like most about Ruth Wilson, other than her relative degree of anonymity, is her face. The animation of her features is such that it makes her face almost translucent. In Jane Eyre, there is a close-up of Ruth Wilson’s face right at the moment when her character Jane finds out that Mr. Rochester is still a married man that reveals, in one look, everything about her. With one look, you see every evidence of her hurt, betrayal, and desolation; with one look, you know her life story. And if you recall from Outlander, this is how Diana Gabaldon described Claire Fraser’s face: translucent as cellophane.
Yes and no. Physically her features are perfect, but she looks a little young for the character, who must be older than Jamie.
By: Ms. Place on September 23, 2007
at 8:32 am
Yes, Ruth Wilson does look young…I believe she’s around 26. However, in Outlander, Claire is 28, so it’s only a two year difference.
Remember in Outlander when Jamie Fraser finally finds out Claire’s age and he expressed mild shock because he assumed she was around his age or even younger. Due to Claire’s luminous skin and healthy dietary habits, she’s managed to look younger than her age throughout the entire series. (How do I remember this? Reading Outlander 3 times has imprinted these tiny details in my mind).
By: T Y on September 23, 2007
at 8:42 am
Looking at it from this viewpoint, you are right. And she certainly looks like Claire.
By: Ms. Place on September 24, 2007
at 3:26 am
Ruth is nearly the same as i pictured the way Claire would look. i don’t think she looks too young at all, all through the books it says she looks alot younger then her real age anyway.
By: sheree on October 1, 2007
at 10:06 pm
Rachel Weiss I believe will make a perfect Claire Frazer. But as far as Ruth Wilson she needs to be Jenny Frazer Murray.
By: Hazel Rodriquez on October 21, 2007
at 2:26 pm
ich liebe die highlander bücher und ich finde sie ist PERFECT für diese Rolle! genauso habe ich mir Claire immer vorgestellt!!!
By: Vanessa on November 24, 2007
at 10:09 am
I like Ruth Wilson and I believe she would play the role of Claire well. But I also think that the whole cast should be quite unknown. I think that way people can relate it better to the book..
By: swefin on November 25, 2007
at 9:05 am
I’ve often thought Keri Russell would make a good Claire. I’ve ALWAYS imagined Claire as a young Emma Thompson, but, beautiful as she still is, perhaps is now too old to play the young claire.
By: Pamela on December 4, 2007
at 6:45 am
I love the idea of keri russell for claire. she is american however… I think that ruth wilson would be fab. and we just need to curl curl curl that hair!
By: charlotte on December 4, 2007
at 12:58 pm
I think she would be a good actress. Ruth looks like I imagine her apperance. But her hair should be a bit more curled.
Greets to all fans
By: Judith on December 7, 2007
at 11:48 am
I don’t like Rachel Weisz or Kate Beckinsale for Claire!
So, when I took my neice to go see the Golden Compass, the perfect actress for Claire, in my mind, popped up on screen!
Eva Green!!!
Even though she was born and raised in France (which is interesting considering in the beginning of Outlander, Claire pretends to be of French origin), she does a pretty spectacular British Accent, and I really think she could pull it off!!!!!
By: Sarah on December 20, 2007
at 9:29 pm
I think British actress Kate Winslet would make a good Claire. She has beautiful skin and light hair. She could play the young Claire as well as the older Claire, as she has the interesting mix of looking frail and strong at the same time.
By: Simon on January 8, 2008
at 7:43 pm
Simon, I think you’ve got it! Kate Winslet could play into both ages of Claire as we know her. She comes across as both smart and earthy, a trait we love so well in Claire. She cleans up nice (for the French court scenes) as we’ve seen in Titanic, but retains her image as a strong willed and capable woman. I never pictured Claire as a delicate flower and she’s in at least in her late 20’s in the first book. And don’t forget she’s just flat out funny! My first choice might have been Emma Thompson a few years ago, but Ms. Winslet gets my vote for now.
By: Donna on January 12, 2008
at 3:23 pm
I hadn’t thought of Eva Green, but I agree, she’d be perfect!
I saw Lucy Lawless (of Xena fame) hosting a show about warrior women a couple of years ago and thought she would make a great Claire (minus the crazy leather outfit). She was a lot more attractive than she was on Xena, and had a strong, intelligent vibe about her.
I always imagined Claire looking a bit like Diana Gabaldon for some reason.
By: Cheryl on January 12, 2008
at 10:10 pm
Rachel Weiss!! She is perfect!
By: Anne on January 13, 2008
at 1:20 am
Funny someone should mention Kate Winslet. I think she would be perfect as Claire Fraser. I do agree with the prior comment that the cast would be better suited to unknowns so as to really draw the viewer into the movie – rather than the actress. I should imagine that if there were such a woman out there who possessed a mixture of both Kate Winslet and Rachel Weisz added to their individualness, I think we’d be onto a definite winner!!
By: Paulette on January 20, 2008
at 1:46 am
I agree with the Kate Winslet suggestion. I can definitely see her in the role of Claire.
I admire Eva Green’s unique look, but I haven’t thought of her as Claire. She could work. I only fear that she might be a little skinny for Claire. I’ve always pictured Claire as more curvy.
By: T Y on January 20, 2008
at 9:58 am
I also agree with Kate Winslet as Claire. Although I would love to see Nataie Portman as well. Not sure if she would do well as an older Claire.
By: Shyamer on January 24, 2008
at 11:30 am
Kate Winslet is who I always pictured as Claire. So she’s my first choice. Plus she has that fiery spunk to her.
Rachel Weitz and Keri Russel would work too.
By: Jules on January 27, 2008
at 12:54 pm
NONE of these choices work for me. Sorry to say. Most of the major characters of these movies need to be fairly unknowns. It is so disappointing to see well written books turned into movies that ONLY promote a celebritys career. These movies will sell soley on their stories, Because the books stand on their own merit. They don’t need some celebrity to sell them. Claire’s character is far too strong, intelligent, feisty, sexual, emotional, grounded, maternal and quick witted a character to be played by any of these women.
By: Midnight Angel on February 12, 2008
at 5:02 pm
I agree with the idea that the cast should be somewhat new facewise, although I am adamant that Jason Isaacs play Frank/ Jack Randall (and soon too!). Maybe Alicia Witt for Brianna?
By: mick on February 13, 2008
at 8:35 pm
Have any of you seen the movie Timeline? I was stunned when I saw it because Anna Friel is exactly what I pictured Claire to look like.
By: Karen on March 1, 2008
at 8:20 pm
And I think Alicia Witt would be perfect for Brianna.
By: Karen on March 1, 2008
at 8:21 pm
I personally fell in love with jamie and claire in the outlander novels! In my opinion and as i pictured claire, I believe rachel weiss would be perfect! I’ve seen her in other movies and she’s got the spunk and the wittiness that claire has in the novels as well as the looks. It would be a disappointment to see Ruth wilson picked as claire. She is very pretty but lacks the maturity and classic look that I find rachel weiss has.
By: katie on March 8, 2008
at 11:49 pm
I had Claire pictured as Juliette Binoche – remembering how strong she was in the film Chocolate – She would make a great older Claire in my opinion.
By: Teresa on March 24, 2008
at 3:12 pm
I agree with the choice of Kate Winslet. She’s a very strong woman – as Claire is
I don’t know that I could find a woman that looks like the Claire in my mind…
By: Cheri on April 29, 2008
at 11:15 am
I have always seen Amanda Burton (Silent Witness) as Claire – feminine but strong and smart. She’d be great opposite Sean Bean as Jamie! Solid as a rock together.
By: Carol on May 22, 2008
at 1:07 am
i think that Kate Winslet should play Claire.. to me she looks exactly as i imagined Claire to look like… she’s a good actress and i reckon she could fill Claire’s role very well
By: Jessica on June 5, 2008
at 10:07 pm
also i think that Leonardo DiCaprio would make an excellent young Ian…
By: Jessica on June 5, 2008
at 10:10 pm
[...] while ago, I wrote a post called The Outlander Movie: Casting Claire Randall Fraser, in which I picked British actress Ruth Wilson because I was quite taken with her work in the new [...]
By: Character Collages: Claire Randall Fraser « The Lit Connection on June 9, 2008
at 8:32 am
If it was 20 years ago, I’d say Jane Seymour would have been perfect. (Her daughter, Katie might do, but I haven’t seen her act, so I don’t know if she’d have the presence for Claire). I always see Claire with a more oval face, more of a honey-brown hair, not dark, and with delicate features. I like Rachel Weiss, but her brows are way too heavy for Claire, and I think her coloring is a little off. Claire is a tough role to fill, you are right!
By: Ravenmoon on June 25, 2008
at 7:26 pm
Eva Green is perfect for Claire. Her features aren’t too sharp and she has a gentle glow to her. I don’t really like Ruth’s face, her features are sharp and her mouth is wrong :S Just a personal opinion. I pictured Claire as simple, beautiful with soft features and amazing eyes.
By: Marianne on July 5, 2008
at 9:04 pm
Sorry to dissappoint, but I’d have to say that the perfect choice for Jamie’s Claire would have to be me. After all, I do love him so!!
By: S Dub on July 21, 2008
at 12:05 am
I always envisioned Claire as being a “Jane Seymour” type.
By: Jacquie on August 11, 2008
at 9:27 am
I would have to agree with Ravenmoon. Jane Seymour all the way!
By: Jacquie on August 11, 2008
at 9:29 am
i have to say, i stumbled upon the outlander series by accident, as it was a suggestion after reading “the time traveler’s wife” by audrey niffenegger. and what a happy accident it was. i just finished the first book and plan to continue with the series until i can’t see straight!
does anyone know if there are in fact plans to make this book into a movie, or even better, a mini-series?
as for claire, i dont think eva green would be right. after seeing her in “the dreamers” i wouldn’t be able to shake the memory of her in that role. anna friel has the right look to her, as does kate winslet, but i believe the role would have a greater affect if portrayed by an unknown. now they just have to find her.
By: crowan on August 12, 2008
at 9:15 pm
Anna Friel i think would be perfect for Claire. Alicia Witt for Brianna. I’m still unhappy and can’t decide for Jamie. I wish there was such a man that existed
<3
I’m am actress myself, and i’d go crazy for the roll for Brianna… being a redhead and all. I’ve been told about bronzino too! I’d love to show you a picture, just contact me if you wish.
By: Kayla on August 25, 2008
at 8:53 am
I think Juliette Binoche, if younger, would be perfect. And Anna Friel certainly has potential. Not Kate Winslet. Not Rachel Wiess. Not someone really really really well known.
Young Jamie.
And I adore Gabriel Aubrey for Jamie.
By: Dawn on November 11, 2008
at 5:02 pm
For me it´s definitely Rachel Weisz!
By: Kristina on December 29, 2008
at 3:26 am
I don’t understand why no one has suggested Nicole Kidman. She has the experience of an older actress, yet she is so youthful looking she could pull off the different ages of Claire. Plus she has that feisty spark.
By: bobina on January 16, 2009
at 9:04 pm
Ruth Wilson is way too harsh-looking to play Claire, no way! Some people have mentioned Keira Knightly, and she too, would be awful. She just is way too young, doe-eyed beautiful to play Claire and she doesn’t have the depth at all for that character. Who cares if she’s English, I find her an annoying actress. I think Rachel Weisz or Kate Beckinsale would be good, and I never thought about Kate Winslet either, until some mentioned it. I think she would be great, her look, her depth, age and life experience would work wonderful for the character of Claire, she’d just have to dye and curl her hair! I could see her playing a young and old Claire wonderfully. I have ALWAYS pictured Alicia Witt for Brianna as soon as her character came up in the book, her or Laura Prepon, from That 70’s Show.
I do think though, that it may be wise to cast some unknowns, or relative unknowns, for the roles of Claire and Jamie (at least Jamie) b/c it really would take away from the story if they were very famous actors!
By: A.C. Mize on January 24, 2009
at 5:41 pm
All these suggested acctresses are way too skinny to play the role of Claire… didn’t you read the books?! She’s got female curves and so on, none of the mentioned actressses do have these attributes…
Claire isn’t a beauty in the meaning of our times, a scotish boy from the 18th century needs to find her attractive…
By: Sgoda on January 29, 2009
at 4:05 pm
As I was reading this series of books, the one actress that I always envisioned Claire looking like was Alex Kingston. If she were only younger I’d think she was perfect for the part!
By: Annette on February 8, 2009
at 8:22 pm
Nicole Kidman wouldn´t be the perfect Claire, she is too tall…
also Alex Kingston.
Look at Rachel Weisz, she has the sizes, the color of the eyes… she has all for me to play Claire
http://z.about.com/d/jewelry/1/7/2/8/rachel_weisz.jpg
By: Kristina on February 14, 2009
at 1:02 am
Although quite skinny now, I think Rose Byrne (with lightened hair and about 15 pounds heavier) could fit the role of Claire. I first thought of her for the part when watching Troy (she plays Perseus).
By: A Morrow on February 17, 2009
at 11:10 am
I mean, Briseus. Whoops
By: A Morrow on February 17, 2009
at 11:15 am
I also think Kate Winslet would be perfect for the role. Lets not forget how Jamie tells Claire a few times through the series that he likes her plump backside.
And a I think it was “The Fiery Cross”, where he said something about a naked skinny women wouldn’t attract him, well not exactly in those lines….. but you get my drift. Anyways to the point, Kate Winslet’s body type would fit the role perfectly. IMO
By: Tiff on February 24, 2009
at 12:10 am
I like the looks of Kate Beckinsale, she has the eyes the color of Scotch/Whiskey like they have been described so much in the books. The eyes matter a good bit to me. She also looks to me like she has some grit to her.
By: Faith on March 25, 2009
at 4:43 pm
i think a good choice for clare would be marion cotillard. i know she is a little older then what clare should be and french, but i think she could pull it off.
I also like Kate Bekinsale.
but please not eva green!
By: jorden on April 6, 2009
at 12:08 am
Interesting choises, but here is my suggestion.
Florence Darel, she is french actress and quite unknown.
She has the whole thing!
The hair, facial strucrure and the eyes.
Look on Youtube!
Only problem is the accent..
By: Avalonia on April 6, 2009
at 10:20 am
In here Florence Darel as the mistress of le Comte of Monte Cristo. (The French mini series 1998)
By: Avalonia on April 18, 2009
at 8:20 am
Don’t forget Claire has impossible to come dark curly hair. Not lightened hair, dark.
By: Kate Winslet on June 10, 2009
at 1:48 pm
I think Justine Waddell would be perfect. That’s my vote.
By: Sarah on June 15, 2009
at 2:24 pm
Justine Waddell has a good look for Claire too!
i agree with you.
By: Jorden on June 18, 2009
at 12:36 am
Evangeline Lilly for Claire.
By: Sherie on June 23, 2009
at 11:22 am
I think Rachel Weisz would make a perfect Claire!
By: Kerryn on June 30, 2009
at 1:54 pm
Justine Waddell/ Ruth Wilson/ Eva Gaelle Green – it is particularly hard to choose out of these women, on whom would be best for Claire. But I can’t see any of the other suggestions. Please remember – in 1743 – people had harder lives than they did in the 1940’s, so they aged more quickly – that is why Jamie thought that Claire was closer to his age than she was. It is quite acceptable to have a much older male actor play the part of Jamie, whilst having a 28 year + actress play the part of Claire.
People these days age even better than they did in the 1940’s!
By: Tasha on July 2, 2009
at 3:38 am
I’ve never seen her acting (which is extremely important) but upon scoping google images for appearances alone English actress Anna Friel looks interesting. Don’t forget, colored contacts and wigs are remarkably realistic nowdays, as long as the facial/body structure is on the money the rest can be cut/colored/curled/ you name it…which they will have to be anyway. How many women have you ever encountered with eyes the color of “whiskey”?
By: Shelly on July 4, 2009
at 12:25 am
OK, if she had whiskey colored contacts and a proper wig, Kate Winslet would be good, plus she’s a good actress. When I look at that photo and imagine dark curly hair and sherry eyes, I can see her as Claire.
http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/kate-winslet/kate-winslet-20080107-359737.jpg
By: Shelly on July 4, 2009
at 12:30 am
I had to write Diana Gabaldon to get her thoughts… Please read the feed below….
Dear Becca—
I’ve been getting a number of enquiries, since press releases have started appearing about the movie production of OUTLANDER—excited folk asking “Is it true?” “When?” and (I hope you’ll pardon a brief roll of the eyes here), “Who would you cast?” (I couldn’t begin to guess how many thousands of times I’ve been asked that over the last twenty years.)
It’s very early days as yet, but I’ll answer what I can.
Yes, Essential Productions is developing OUTLANDER as a “major motion picture.”. (What that means is that they want to make a two-to-two-and-a-half hour feature film.)
And yes, Randall Wallace (the talented gentleman who wrote both BRAVEHEART and PEARL HARBOR—hey, ancient Scots and WWII, how about that?) is writing the script.
No, I have absolutely nothing to say about the casting of the movie. The production people do occasionally ask me what I think of this or that person, but this is simple politeness on their part.
No, I have no control whatever regarding the script.
No, I really don’t want to have anything personal to do with the development of the movie.
Why not? Well, two major reasons (putting aside the fact that producers seldom want the original writer sticking his or her oar in and causing trouble):
1. I have books to write and a family to be with. I can’t be hopping planes every other week or dropping everything else at a moment’s notice to do script adjustments. (I do know that all movie scripts go through many (many, many) iterations, rewrites, etc. in the process of development and filming.) That kind of thing eats your time and sucks your soul, and to no good end.
2. For nearly twenty years now, people have been saying to me, “Oh! I’m dying to see the movie of your books! But I want it to be just like it is in the book!” To which the only possible reply is, “Yeah? Which forty pages do you want to see?”
Obviously, a book of the size and complexity of OUTLANDER won’t fit into a two-hour movie. But it might be possible for a good movie based on the book to exist.
Adaptations can be either good or bad—they’re seldom indifferent—but a skilful adaptation is just as much a feat of skill as is writing an original book or script.
Yes, I could adapt the book myself. With the net result that even if a) no one then messed with the script (and they would; that’s how film works), and b) the end result was wonderful (odds of about 900:1)—ten million people would still email me about, “But how could you leave out that scene?” Or “But why did you change this character?” Or “But you left out my favorite line in the whole book!”
I’d really rather write a new novel.
Now, do bear in mind a couple of things here:
1. Essential Productions have an option on the book. This means that they paid us a modest amount of money and we gave them a span of time, in which they can do anything they want to, in order to put together the necessary financing and logistics to make a movie (that includes hiring a scriptwriter).
We (my agents and I) get a lot of option requests. We decided to grant Essential Productions an option because we like them, we think they understand the book and its central characters, and insofar as such a thing is possible, we trust them to do their best to make it a great movie.
But it is an option.
2. Not all movies that are optioned actually get made. Even movies that have excellent scripts, A-list directors and recognizable stars don’t always get made. Naturally, we hope this one will, because we do like the EP people and think that of all the producers who’ve approached us about the film rights, they have the best chance of succeeding in making a great movie.
But we’ll all have to wait and see what happens next.
And that’s all I can tell you.
Le meas, –Diana
P.S. Well, I can also tell you that a) yes, Gerard Butler is a fine-looking specimen of Scottish manhood, even if he is a Lowlander, but b) I think he might have difficulty playing a 22-year-old virgin; c) Keira Knightley would probably make an excellent Claire (she has the accent and the capacity for sarcasm), if she gained forty pounds, but d) James McAvoy is probably a wonderful actor, but he’s only 5′7″, for heaven’s sake.
By: Becca on July 17, 2009
at 8:16 am
What about Alex Kingston?
By: susi on August 26, 2009
at 5:58 pm
I think Daniela Denby-Ashe (of North & South) would be a nice candidate.
By: multipass on September 13, 2009
at 2:16 pm
I feel that KERI RUSSELL could play the role of Clair and do that role justice. She’s still young enough to play a 27 year old and get away with it. She has an angelic face of someone who would be from the 40’s. She’s an amazing actress and she also has crazy curly hair with the perfect coloring too. I would much rather have actors and actresses in this movie that are not so famous if you know what I mean.
I also think CHRIS HEMSWORTH 6′3″ would be the PERFECT Jamie. He’s young, tall, muscular, and sexy. He even has catlike eyes and since he has light hair he would look great with the red hair.
By: Dawn on September 29, 2009
at 7:40 am
I think Rachel McAdams would do great!!! She has that strong personality. and Chris Hemsworth as Jamie.
By: yrma on September 30, 2009
at 6:25 am
Back in the 90s when I read the first books, I pictured Alex Kingston (Dr. Corday on ER) as Claire – nowadays she wouldn’t be able to play young claire, but older Claire? I can still see it.
By: jeezlouise7 on October 9, 2009
at 4:17 pm
I vote for Rachel McAdams, soft but strong. She’s perfect! Helmsworth isn’t bad, but I like David Wenham. I hope they make it a TV series… too hard to make it a movie and get everything in!
By: Judy on October 16, 2009
at 9:45 am
What about Christina Hendricks (Mad Men secretary) for Claire and Gerard Butler for Jamie?
By: adeline on October 26, 2009
at 8:39 pm
I know everyone has their favorites, as do I-but it really bugs me that people want such young actresses for Claire. She was older than Jamie, she is British and considered herself somewhat plain. As i read the first book years and years ago I realized that i was seeing Claire as Emma Thompson, and it was perfect.
http://static.fameball.com/imgcache/1/30/0
look her up in Google images. Unfortunately, try though I might, I have NOT seen the perfect Jamie yet. I liked the possibilty of Heath Ledger at one time, but even he was not big enough. I shall keep my eyes open, though, I can promise you that.
By: Ruthie on October 29, 2009
at 7:12 pm
Charlie Hunnam – he’s Jamie. He’s British, but does an excellent American accent. No doubt he can slip into a fine brogue when called to…look him up on IMDB…even has slanted blue cat eyes like a Fraser.
By: Jessica on November 6, 2009
at 6:38 pm