Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe reveals why late dad would love her new role

The Irish actress, 45, stars alongside Rami Malek in new spy thriller The Amateur, and has opened up about how the role is similar to her iconic Outlander character Claire Fraser.

Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe is hitting the big screen in the highly anticipated film The Amateur. The renowned Irish actress will share the limelight with a stellar cast featuring Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, and Laurence Fishburne.

In The Amateur, Balfe portrays the enigmatic widow Inquiline who forms an unlikely alliance with a vengeful CIA operative played by Malek, after his spouse falls victim to a London terror attack.

Drawing parallels between her latest character and Claire Fraser, whom Balfe has brought to life in Outlander for over a decade, she shared her insights during a chat reported by the Scottish Daily Express.

Speaking to Numero.com, Balfe said: “I’m simply interested in portraying real women – women with agency. So if that’s seen as a feminist approach, then yes, it is. I think it’s important that each character I play feels real, three-dimensional, and like there’s something compelling about her.”

She also opened up about a special personal connection to her new role; her late father was a spy movie aficionado. The beloved retired Garda officer James ‘Jim’ Balfe sadly passed away at Mater Hospital, Ireland, in August 2022.

Reflecting on her childhood cinematic experiences, Balfe conveyed: “My dad was a huge fan of spy movies. Growing up, if the only TV in the house was on and you wanted to watch something, you had to watch what he was watching.”

She further expressed her fondness for the spy film genre: “So yes, I’ve always enjoyed the genre. Over the years, there have been so many variations on spy films that there’s always something interesting to discover.”

The actress has previously shared her experiences of growing up in rural County Monaghan, close to the UK border with Northern Ireland, and the challenges of being a guard’s daughter. She revealed that some families “wouldn’t really interact with you” and reflected on how her father’s dual nature as a strict police garda sergeant and a performer who enjoyed doing skits, even dressing up in a wedding dress, must have influenced her.

In her latest role in The Amateur, Balfe portrays a solitary hacker based in Istanbul who assists grieving Charlie Heller in finding his wife’s killers, which reignites his zest for life.

Discussing the parallels between her characters Claire and Inquiline, both of whom are independent and resourceful women, she expressed gratitude for her place in the industry and the trajectory of her career. She also commented on the evolution of female roles, saying: “I’m so grateful to have found a place in this industry and to see my career take off. And I’m happy that more and more female characters are being written this way.”