International Women’s Day spotlight: The women of Outlander
When you think of Outlander, you likely think of Claire Fraser, but there are many other women. For this International Women’s Day, it’s time to look at the important women of Outlander.
Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser is a role model for many. The Outlander lead is a strong and fierce character, protecting those she loves through any means necessary. But she’s also kind-hearted and caring. Even those who cross her can see the kinder side to her if warranted.
There are far many more women of Outlander. For this International Women’s Day, it’s time to draw attention to each of them—the real people and not the characters.
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Diana Gabaldon
Without Diana Gabaldon there would be no Outlander. As the author of the books, she has created this beautiful and deep world of the Frasers, the Randalls and more. She’s made us fall in love with an 18th century highlander, had us wishing that Craig na Dun was real, and even made us contemplate what we really want from life.
A story that originally started as writing practice has become an international success. Whether you know the first book as Outlander or Cross-Stitch, you know the world of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and her trip through the stones.
Gabaldon is also not afraid to speak her mind and offers her thoughts on the episodes. She’s even penned an episode and hopefully that happens again. After all, she certainly knows the characters she’s created.
Now we get to see the characters come to life and that brings us onto the next woman behind the series.
Maril Davis
Like Gabaldon, without Maril Davis there wouldn’t be the Outlander TV series we know of today. You will usually see her on Twitter with her “Heard on Set” pieces, although there haven’t been many from her lately due to locations. However, she is one of the masterminds behind the series, working with Ron D. Moore and Matthew B. Roberts.
Davis has helped to bring the characters to life. She’s helped to mold the TV world we know of today. Whether you love the changes or not, you have to commend her ability to work with changing writing teams and help bring the characters to life.
But she’s not alone in bringing Outlander to life.
Terry Dresbach
The storytelling is beautiful, but it wouldn’t be the same without the costumes. Terry Dresbach is the woman behind those beautiful dresses, the amazing kilts, and the gorgeous costumes you see on set. She’ll bring something from the books and make it real, and then adapt other storylines and elements to create something exciting and vibrant.
Whether you loved or hated the Bat-Dress, this was Dresbach’s masterpiece. It was full of thought and originality, meshing together the 1960s and the 1760s effortlessly (well, there was probably a lot of effort and work, but it doesn’t look it—and I say that in a good way).
There are so many more pieces to come and surprises to jump out. Here’s to many more seasons to come!
Caitriona Balfe
Where would the world of Outlander be without its leading lady? Caitriona Balfe has brought the character of Claire to life. We’ve loved and lost with her, feeling every emotion she’s had along the way. We fell in love with Jamie with Claire, felt the fear and hatred for Black Jack, understood the difficulty readjusting with Frank, and felt the love for and apprehension of leaving Brianna behind.
Balfe is more than just an outstanding actress, though. Despite never experiencing harassment herself, she’s always been kind and generous to those who took part in the #MeToo campaign. She has fought with them, pushing for equality, rights, and a brighter future within the industry. Throughout the awards season, she’s continued the black dress trend to make sure she makes a point that #TimesUp.
You won’t see much of Balfe’s private life, and that’s just the way we like it.
Please help spread the word for a foundation to help people in need - in memory of my beautiful friend, Hannah Whitley, who died tragically on 22nd December 2017. She was always helping people, this foundation is to continue that legacy. 🙏 https://t.co/PjL9UnmOMB ""
— Sophie Skelton (@SkeltonSophie) February 25, 2018
Sophie Skelton
One of the newest additions to the series, Sophie Skelton joined Outlander for Season 2 as Brianna. However, we didn’t really get to know her until last season, as she gained more exposure with Claire being in her present day. Season 4 will bring Brianna in more, as we delve further into the life of her and Roger MacKenzie Wakefield.
The British actress is another one who likes to keep her private life private, although she certainly loves to have a good joke on Twitter. Like her on-screen mother, Skelton has a beautiful and kind heart, recently tweeting about the open shelters for the homeless during the harsh winter conditions in Britain.
As a young actress, she still has so much growing to do. It’s an honor to see that happen in Outlander.
There are many other actresses who deserve a mention for their hardwork and dedication to Outlander to make their characters the women they are. Laura Donnelly, Lotte Verbeek, Nell Hudson and Lauren Lyle have all stood out over the years.
Anne Kenney
There are many female writers and directors on the series, and it’s hard to cover them all. However, for this International Women’s Day it felt important to cover some of the most prolific and loved by the fandom. One of those is Anne Kenney, who wrote the infamous episode “The Wedding.”
Kenney captured everything that was the wedding scene in “Outlander.” While there were some necessary adaptations for time constraints and costs, the majority of it remained the same. The feelings between Claire and Jamie were evident throughout the episode. There’s a reason the fans would have liked Kenney to stick around for longer, but she stepped back after the third season.
Toni Graphia
Toni is a writer and producer on Outlander, helping to mold the world we know on the screen. You’ll usually see her in the snippets after the episodes, looking inside the world more and explaining some of the smaller elements that you may have missed the first time watching.
One of her more prominent episodes she wrote was “The Devil’s Mark.” Again, it’s an episode that dramatically changes elements in the book due to time and cost restraints, but still gets the full message across. She brings out the fear of being accused of witchcraft and we get the chance to see Geillis sacrificing her life to allow Claire to move on for bigger things. Graphia developed the episode in a way that would make it forever unforgettable.
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Who are your favorite women of Outlander? Who did I miss that you’d like to celebrate this International Women’s Day? Share your preferences in the comments below and let’s commend all for their hard work in the books and series.
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