Posted by: T Y | September 20, 2007

The Outlander Movie: Casting Claire Randall Fraser

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.

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Responses

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

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