‘Outlander’: Caitriona Balfe’s 10 Sexiest Moments as Claire Fraser Ranked
Outlander is one of the sexiest shows on TV, and it has a female lead character who owns her sexuality. Caitriona Balfe plays Claire, a World War II nurse turned Harvard educated doctor who travels back in time and falls in love with Jamie Fraser, an 18th century Scottish Highlander (Sam Heughan).
The couple has had numerous steamy moments during the first five seasons, often with Claire “orchestrating the sequence of events.” Here are Balfe’s 10 sexiest moments as Claire Fraser, ranked.
10. The ‘Outlander’ star’s iconic red dress
This isn’t one of Outlander’s famous sex scenes, but this is still one of Claire’s sexiest moments. In preparation for a gala event at Versailles during the second episode of season 2, she walks down the stairs wearing a stunning red dress that grabs everyone’s attention.
The reveal of her wearing the iconic red dress with a plunging neckline from costume designer Terry Dresbach — not to mention Jamie’s reaction to it — was perfection. The moment stands out in both the TV series and Diana Gabaldon’s books.
9. ‘Outlander’ proves pregnant women can enjoy sex, too
In Season 2, Episode 4 “La Dame Blanche,” Claire and Jamie have a big fight over two bites on his thighs that results in him sleeping in another room. When Claire walks in and drops her gown, the couple reconnects in a steamy moment under the moonlight. What makes Balfe so sexy in this scene is the focus on her pregnant belly and the fact that she is obviously still very much enjoying herself.
8. Claire can bring her husband back to life with sex
Does Claire have sexual superpowers? It seems that she does in Season 5, Episode 9 “Monsters & Heroes.” A snake bite has brought Jamie close to death, and before he dies he asks Claire to touch him.
When his heart stops beating, her response is to take off her clothes and jump on top of him. She then proceeds to bring him back to life. Heughan described this scene as “making love without making love.”
7. Singing ‘Happy Birthday’
In the seventh episode of season 5 — “The Ballad of Roger Mac” — Claire gives her husband a song on his 50th birthday. Even though they are in a tent and preparing for war, Claire wakes Jamie up with a kiss and sings Happy Birthday Marilyn Monroe-style, all while in the nude. Of course, the couple then proceeds to get it on.
6. ‘Do it now, and don’t be gentle’
In the highly anticipated season three episode “A. Malcolm,” Claire and Jamie finally reunite after 20 years (or six episodes) apart. They were a bit awkward and hesitant at first, but once they get back into the groove the remainder of the episode is pretty much a sex scene. Claire’s sexiest moment of the episode was when she tells Jamie, “Do it now, and don’t be gentle.”
5. Claire’s sexy time perfume
In Season 5, Episode 11 “Journeycake,” Claire is now in her 50s and that means occasional hot flashes. When she walks over to the window in the middle of the night to cool off, Jamie wakes up and smells her sexy time perfume. As she hangs out the window with her hair blowing in the wind, Claire enjoys time with Jamie.
4. ‘Outlander’ gets down and dirty outside
In the season 1 episode “Both Sides Now,” Jamie and Claire are newlyweds when they decide to have a quickie outdoors in the Scottish Highlands. With their clothes still on, the couple gets down and dirty in the green grass. Claire’s effect on her man is evident when he says “Does it ever stop, the wanting you?”
3. Waking up to pure pleasure
The tenth episode of season 1 opens with Claire seemingly asleep in bed. Her moans and gasps indicate a bad dream, but it’s soon revealed that her husband has woken her up. What really makes this moment sexy for Claire is that despite the knocks on the door and the threat of interruption, she lays back and lets Jamie continue.
2. The very first time
One of the most-loved moments from Outlander is Season 1, Episode 7 “The Wedding.” Jamie and Claire have just gotten married and are consummating the union, and it’s the moment she takes his virginity. Just like their reunion in season 3, things are awkward at first. But by their second time, the slow disrobing and foreplay mark the beginning of one of TV’s steamiest romances.
1. This ‘Outlander’ scene featured a knife, sex, and a lesson about equality
Early on in Jamie and Claire’s relationship, he spanked her with his belt as punishment for disregarding his orders. That apparently was a common thing for husbands and wives in the 18th century, but Claire is a 20th-century woman and she was furious.
When they do eventually make-up — Claire mounts Jamie and then holds a dagger to his throat.
“If you ever raise a hand to me again, James Fraser, I will cut your heart out and have it for breakfast,” Claire warns.
Season 6 of Outlander is expected to premiere on Starz in February 2022.
