It’s all too easy for fans to reduce actors to their parts rather than their whole. That one has amazing eyes. This one has fabulous hair. So-and-so has an incredible body. And the Outlander fandom does its share of abetting this reduction. (I count myself among them since I, too, find it hard not to click “like” or “love” when certain Outlander images and memes cross the social media webosphere. I mean I am human after all!)
I offer up this caveat to start: I don’t actually know Cait (Dammit.) This is my impression of Cait—it’s okay if I call you Cait, right?—and I know it’s the public image she allows rather than the way she might be with her friends or family. But I will say this: People who do jerky things often turn out to be, well, jerks in real life. Some things you just can’t fake, and we all know so far Cait hasn’t done any overtly jerky things. And that’s because . . . reason number one I love her . . .
Caitriona Balfe seems so damn down-to-earth.
Unlike many celebs, Cait seems to be the person she is. She laughs and is silly and seems to recognize that acting is a bit of a game. She rolls her eyes during interviews, is self-deprecating, and is always aware of drawing in her co-stars to conversations rather than hogging the interview because her character is in just about every episode for most of the time. Another actor might get a swelled head. Cait just seems to be grateful for all of it. How else to explain her apparent endless patience with fans at events and who meet her on the street and demand selfies?I mean who else would talk on national TV about how she was the whitest Victoria’s Secret model in the show?
She also seems to embrace her sexuality—did you see the “bathing suit” she wore on that runway?—and admits a penchant to have a good time/drink. Before she and Sam learned that you need to be careful about what you post on social media, we regularly got photos of people who’d maybe had a whisky or two at a wrap party.
Caitriona Balfe smacks down cyberbullies.
Early in the Outlander fandom, shippers went a little berserk assuming that Cait and her co-star Sam Heughan were an item in real life. Indeed, the Outlander fandom, while wonderful in so many ways, can be a just a teensy judgy about what the shows stars can and cannot do or say. They can also be absurdly mean to other fans expressing their opinions.Cait has been consistent about telling people to do and be better—even though doing so can risk the ire of the trolliest of trolls.
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing. Treat people online as you would someone standing right in front of you. #respecteachother— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) January 10, 2016
Caitriona Balfe flies her political freak flag high and proud.
This has nothing—okay it has a little—to do with the fact that Cait and I seem to share at least some of the same political views. So many actors get caught up in the kerfuffle of being actors—who’s looking at me now? They are so concerned with crafting their “story” that they don’t seem to be anything more than that story. The Kardashian family comes to mind.
Other actors—Mark Ruffalo and Emma Watson, for instance, and, of course, Cait—recognize that reaching a certain level of celebrity is a responsibility in addition to a gift. To coin Spiderman (the movie): “With great power comes great responsibility.” Cait regularly uses her position (despite some negative fan reaction) to advocate against injustice and for positive change. She participated in the Women’s March in Edinburgh, she stood with her Irish sisters and a woman’s right to choose, and she periodically weighs in on some of the more global implications of edicts emanating from the person sitting in the oval office in the White House in the U.S.
In Edinburgh @ 11 am .. I’ll be marching in support of my American sisters and women everywhere. #lovenothate https://t.co/38QF9Qoecm— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) January 21, 2017
Here’s to all my Irish sisters still fighting for the right to choose. #repealthe8th #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/HehNdXfsdl— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) March 8, 2017
Standing in solidarity with my Polish sisters. #blackprotest pic.twitter.com/IBu6Mjlk4I— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) October 3, 2016
Yup, Cait walks the walk using her position to raise funds for good causes. While some celebrities offer lip service to various charities, doing little more than agreeing that a charity can mention that So-and-So supports a particular cause, Cait jumps in with both feet. She traveled to Africa as part of her role as ambassador for World Child Cancer, her lead charity, created a tee-shirt campaign—I’m an Unusual Lady—whose funds helped the cause and offered up the dress and jewelry she wore to the AWARD for a WWC auction.
Caitriona Balfe stands up for women.
This is where Cait, the full package of awesome, comes together. Cait understands that as a woman in a position of power, a woman whose voice is actually heard, she has a role to play. Cait understands that beyond everything else, she is a role model for women everywhere. And nowhere was that more obvious than when she was asked recently for the best career advice she had ever received. Her answer: Stand in your power.
Yes, Cait, exactly. Stand in your power. We could all do worse than follow that advice. Thank you . . .
I think my comment is probably just a general summary of everything you wrote, so I apologize for its redundancy, but the main reason I adore Cait is that she just seems so real and down to earth. I feel like I could run into her at the grocery store and we could discuss the outrageous price of cereal…just like I do every week with whomever is near enough to listen to me. But I digress. 🙂 She seems as though she understands the fans, our passion for the books, the show and all of the love we have for anything and everything involved in our Outlander bubble, and she takes it all in stride with grace and kindness. Not to mention, she has brought Claire to life in a way I can't imagine any other actor could. She is truly a gem.
Jennifer–yes, she seems like she could be a friend and she is amazingly patient with a fandom that isn't always….
Love this story—and am not surprised. And yes, intelligent! And not afraid to show it! More good role model behavior in my opinion.
Beth–yes, yes and yes!
Great writing! I admire her as a person, as a woman and as an actor. Let't remind ourselves that Outlander is her first big role as an actor and she does it amazing!! One could never tell…
Thank you for the beautiful profile Janet. You captured Claire/Cait brilliantly. I admire Cait's intelligence, strength, courage, and kindness. She is an amazing role model for women. She speaks her mind and exudes lots of confidence. She uses her celebrity status for good causes (like you I so admire her politics!). She is a gift that keeps on giving – how lucky are we!
Well said, I enjoy your writing and keeping this wonderful flow of words, for an outstanding women..
I agree with all you have said. She is also seems highly intelligent and very perceptive. I was standing right outside a door 2 years ago waiting for she and other cast members to exit. One of those obnoxious guys with a pile of pics in his hand was pushing me and holding the pics directly over my head to get a signature. As soon as Cait came out she quickly looked at me, assessed the situation and yelled at the guy to back off of me and that she would not sign his pictures! She then took 2 selfies with me because I was so nervous I kept screwing it up. At least 2 other random fans have told me that she did the same for them in a similar situation. She can read a situation and a person in a split second, has a wonderful sense of humor and is comfortable in her own skin. Isn't that what we all strive to be?
We loved Claire from the beginning and we wanted to love Cait. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful person portraying her. Then the bonus that she is a wonderful wonderful person..
Yes she consistently amazes me in just about every interaction I see her in…..on the screen and in real life handling dumb media questions and fans and all the rest….
Excellent point. And I totally agree. Reason number 6! 🙂
Thank you Paula….I appreciate your comment…
Thank you! Yes, we are lucky indeed….and for Sam too and for their obvious friendship, which I think is critical to working so hard on such a long series….
So, having read all the comments and of course your words on Cait, I must say you all missed something quite important about her. She has the best sense of humor and possesses a healthy irreverence! That is a mark of a woman who is secure in herself. Love you, Cait!!!!!
If the eyes are the window to the soul, then I say the smile and laugh are the window to the heart. With some people there is a purity in their laugh that shows the essence of them and Cait is one of those people. There's no guard or pretense, she laughs because she has joy in her heart and it's beautiful. I've expressed before that the thing I find most attractive in a woman is her smile and laugh. It shows her true inner beauty which is really who she is. It's why I'm so attracted to her.
Janet thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us on Cait.
I agree with everything that you said about her.
I find Cait so endearing everytime I see her in interviews or something like that. She seems very grounded, smart and funny.
She seems like she could be your best friend, a normal person that you could have a drink with
I love the fact that she is not afraid to speak out about the causes close to her.
It's funny, I don't always care for Claire as a character, but I just adore Cait as the actress.
She seems to reach deep down inside the audience and pull up all of these emotions.
It is a treat to watch her, even if you don't like what Claire is doing at the moment.
Major kudos.
Caitriona Balfe is courageous, a risk-taker, a time traveler in her own right. At age 19 she took a risk moving to Paris to start what became a ten-year impressive modeling career. At age 29 she took a second big career risk and left modeling behind to pursue her true love of acting. At age 34 she took the most important risk so far in her life and auditioned for and accepted the challenging role of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser in Outlander. Her portrayal of the feisty Claire has lit up the Outlander series with her intense compassion and passionate sensuality; performances which have earned her two Golden Globe nominations and many other kudos. It takes courage and hard work to achieve what Catriona has accomplished. Another reason we love her as a courageous woman and human being- a modern day role model.
Well said.
Jackie–I love your referring to her as a time traveler and how you note her milestones and risk-taking. Those moves are the sign of a woman who is centered I think. I often wonder what her parents are like—they certainly did something right to raise a woman like Cait.
Thanks Janet for your kind comments. I have often wondered also about Cait's family but I do believe she had a very secure childhood, raised with good values and a lot of security to allow her to take risks and feel comfortable with herself, developing good self esteem.
Last year I was so lucky to have that I had a chance to meet Cait and Sam and the the thing that I never forget is how incredible kind she was! We were there with a large group of fans, but she really took the time for all of us. Time to talk a bit, asking me where I was from and when I told her I was from The Netherlands, she thanked me for coming all the way to London just for them. She really touched my heart (and she loved my bag ??????).
What I admire about her is how down to earth she is and how in interviews she doesn't take herself to serious. She isn't afraid to say the wrong things. It's what makes her so pure and real. But also her huge heart to certain things and her drive to do good for the world. I really admire that. But most of all, Cait is just real. (and so incredible beautiful in real life! It's almost annoying ????.)
Love her in spite of the liberal progressive views that have left Europe in the tank. Sometimes actors need to stick to their core competency unless they sport poli-sci degrees. I want to be entertained — no lectured.
I admire the way Caitriona Balfe seems to decide what she wants to do, and then does it all exceptionally well.
Yup, I’m seriously in love with this girl, too! Agreed that Sam has killed it for all men, she has something that just stays with you. Great show. I wish her well.