Caitríona Balfe Calls Out ‘Outlander’ Fandom ‘Crazies’ for Crossing a Line and Why She’s ‘Really Protective’ of Her Son Around Fans

Outlander premiered on Starz in 2014, introducing fans around the world to a tumultuous love story that would soon captivate millions. The show, which will soon be returning for its sixth season, is still one of the most popular fantasy romances around, and the actors who portray the lead couple have both become major stars. Notably, Caitríona Balfe, who plays Claire Fraser in Outlander, has managed to remain in the spotlight, even when she’s not hard at work filming the show. In a recent interview, Balfe opened up about some of the more fringe aspects of the Outlander fandom, admitting that she’s become really protective over her young son because of those hardcore fans. 

Caitríona Balfe is best known for playing Claire Fraser in ‘Outlander’

Balfe was born in Ireland in 1979. She started her career as a model, walking the runway in fashion shows all around the world. By 2006, Balfe had embarked on her acting career, appearing in movies like The Devil Wears Prada and Escape Plan. In September 2013, Balfe received her big break when she was cast in the brand-new TV series Outlander, a show based on a series of popular novels.

The show premiered in August 2014 on the Starz network—and fans immediately expressed their affection for Balfe in the leading role as Claire Fraser, a military nurse in Scotland who is magically transported back to Scotland in the 1700s and falls in love with a Highland warrior named Jamie, played by Sam Heughan. In the years since the show debuted, Balfe has acted in other projects, but she remains best known for her work as Claire in Outlander. 

What did Caitríona Balfe say about the ‘crazies’ in the ‘Outlander’ fandom?

The Outlander fandom is passionate about the show – to such an extent that some of these fans have managed to alarm star Balfe. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Balfe opened up about how some overzealous fans have caused her to be very wary, especially when it comes to her young son. As reported by Insider, Balfe said “When you have a kid, you become really protective. I don’t want those crazies — because that’s what they are — I just don’t want them talking about him.”

The publication notes that some of the more outrageous fan theories hold that Balfe’s son with husband Anthony McGill is actually co-star Sam Heughan’s child, based on some similar bedsheets that fans spotted in social media posts. Some overzealous fans are even convinced that Balfe and Heughan are actually together in real life, rather than just playing roles in a TV show, and have hired private investigators to research the theory, according to Balfe.

Caitríona Balfe can be seen next in the sixth season of ‘Outlander’

In her interview, Balfe went on to detail her thoughts on how the more toxic elements of the fandom affect the larger fan base: “It’s sad, because you meet the loveliest people who are fans of the show and they’re super supportive and they do the nicest things — and then you have that little thing, which just taints it.”

In spite of those fans who go overboard, Balfe is still committed to the show that made her a star, and to those fans who do have genuine affection for her and her co-stars. Fans will be able to see Balfe, as well as other series regulars like Sam Heughan and David Berry, back in action as Claire Fraser when the sixth season of Outlander premieres on March 6, 2022.