When Outlander: Blood of My Blood gained more traction, we started to learn some surprises about the series. It was no longer just about Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser. Instead, the show would offer us a look at the love story of Claire’s parents.
Of course, there was an end point for their love story, but what if there wasn’t? Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis both decided it was time to bring the time travel element of the story back in. That meant putting both Henry and Julia Beauchamp into the past.
Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine chatted with us exclusively about their characters, including the free reign that they had a little more than others since we know so little about them from Outlander.
Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield talk Henry and Julia Beauchamp in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Claire & Jamie: We don’t know anyting about Claire’s parents except that they died when she was five. What was that like for you kind of having more of a freedom with your characters?
Hermione Corfield: It’s great! Yeah, gives us all the kind of free reign to create the characters, because you have the starting point of Claire, of course. You’re finding some of the traits in her that we have, but on the whole, we’re kind of able to, as you said, create whichever characters we want.
C&J: Now we know that both of you can time travel. At what point did you find that out?
HC: First time I read the script.
Jeremy Irvine: Yeah, yeah, that’s right. I mean you kind of expect it, don’t you? It’s an Outlander show; there’s gotta be some. You know you’re going to have some hot sex scenes and time travel.
C&J: But there was the knowledge that one of you could time travel, genetically, but the fact that you both could just kind of added this extra layer. What was it like for you to both do World War I, but also 1714 (and possibly other time periods)?
HC: It’s a fun challenge, I think, as an actor, isn’t it? The biggest challenge I think was being a woman from the 20s to the 1700s. That was a challenge to play and work out how to have consistency in the character, but also kind of carry the traits through from the 20s and have to assimilate so that you can survive in that time period. There’s so much going on, so yes, there’s a big challenge.
JI: I think I would have been a bit gutted if I never got to wear a kilt and have a sword.
C&J: That’s a fair point. What’s been your favorite part about bringing both Julia and Henry to life?
JI: Working with Hermione. We’ve been friends for over 10 years, so it’s lovely. I’m basically just hanging out in Scotland with some of my good friends. We have a good laugh, don’t we?
HC: We do have a laugh.
C&J: I always love when I’m talking with British actors, because I feel like I’m back home. It’s been almost 10 years since I moved.
JI: Well, you’ve gotta come back to Scotland and visit us.
C&J: I used to live right by where you film in Aidrie. So, my last question is how would you describe your characters in three words or phrases?
JI: Resilient. Quick-witted. Romantic.
HC: He stole all mine.
JI: I know, because we always get asked this, so I’d like to get in there quickly. Now Hermione’s got to find the dregs of descriptive words.
HC: Resourceful. Artistic. Nurturing.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood premieres on Friday, Aug. 8 on STARZ.
Stay up to date with the latest Outlander news with Claire and Jamie.