A New Leading Man Has Joined the Conversation

      Jamie Roy exemplifies the importance of first impressions. When the Scottish actor auditioned for his initial role in the seventh season of Outlander as "Militia Man Number One," a part with just a few lines, he thought, "This is it, baby! This is my big break." However, this role was cut from the show, but casting agents recognized his talent and invited him to audition for a more significant role. "I felt like, 'Oh sweet, I've done something right,'" Roy recollects during a Zoom call in early July. He didn't land that role either. Unbeknownst to Roy, the creators of the hit Starz series were working on a highly anticipated prequel specifically with him in mind. Thus, Outlander: Blood of My Blood was born—yes, this would become Roy's big break.

      Described as a sweeping historical romance, Blood of My Blood tells two intertwining love stories, depicting the courtships of the parents of Outlander's Claire Beauchamp (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) set against the backdrop of the 18th century Scottish Highlands and World War I battlefields. Roy portrays Brian Fraser, Jamie's father, who initially shows no interest in marrying until he encounters the spirited Ellen MacKenzie. The challenge lies in the fact that Brian and Ellen belong to opposing clans, making their union nearly impossible. It’s a traditional tale of star-crossed lovers.

      Roy’s striking resemblance to Heughan made him an obvious choice for the role of Jamie's father. Despite being frequently told about their likeness by fans, Roy only recognized it after finally meeting Heughan face-to-face. "When we started talking, I was like, 'Oh, I think I see what people mean,'" Roy remarks, grinning. While seated outside a local coffee shop during the filming of Blood of My Blood, where devoted fans waited nearby, the two actors connected instantly. "During that meeting, I realized, 'Oh, we’re actually very similar as individuals,'" he continues.

      The similarities between Roy and Heughan extend beyond their physical features; their characters also begin with a shared aversion to courtship until their respective true loves appear. Brian, according to Roy, has accepted that he will live a mundane life as the illegitimate son of Simon Fraser, excluded from society, until he meets Ellen. "When he meets Ellen, that’s when he understands, 'Oh, I can actually desire something again,' which changes him completely," Roy explains. "I like to say that viewers will see multiple facets of Brian. They’ll encounter the headstrong, deliberate Brian who speaks swiftly with his father, and a different Brian with Ellen—someone who exudes confidence and can be vulnerable, sharing his grievances and stories about his past without fear of judgment. This woman truly sees him and understands his soul." Roy emphasizes Brian's romantic nature, highlighting his choice of the "most picturesque bridge in all of Scotland" for their secret rendezvous in episode 1.

      This passionate love story relies heavily on the dynamic chemistry between its leads, making finding Ellen a significant challenge. Roy met with six or seven talented actresses who just didn't quite capture the right spark, leading him to question his choice. However, everything changed when English actress Harriet Slater auditioned. On a bank holiday in Scotland, Roy and Slater gathered in a small studio and read together via Zoom for the casting and creative teams. "When we started performing the scenes, from the outset, her accent was fantastic—something I really pay attention to, as a poor accent can be distracting," Roy shares. "There was a particular scene…We performed a few scenes from Blood of My Blood and one from Outlander—the moment at the stones when Jamie bids farewell to Claire at the end of season 2. During that scene, it hit me—I felt a wave of something I hadn’t experienced in prior reads. It was electrifying. I realized, 'Oh my god, that’s it. That’s what I’ve been missing.’ You don’t know what you're searching for until you see and feel it, and that was it."

      After wrapping up their read, Roy and Slater exhaled in relief before departing for their respective taxis. He embraced her warmly and expressed his support. "Once I got into the taxi, I texted Glenda [Mariani] from casting, asking, 'That’s the one, right?' and she confirmed, 'Yeah, that’s who we’re hoping for too,'" Roy recalls.

      By the time of our interview with Roy, only two episodes had been shared with the press—quite the tease, if you ask us. However, that was sufficient to witness the undeniable chemistry between Roy and Slater on screen. Their relationship echoes that of forbidden love, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, filled with stolen glances and risky encounters, creating a slow-burning romance. "