At the end of the show’s first season, Heughan’s character, Jamie Fraser – an 18th-century Scottish warrior – is captured by Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall (Tobias Menzies), a cruel and sadistic British officer.
In exchange for letting Jamie’s wife, Claire (a time-travelling World War II nurse played by Caitríona Balfe) escape, Jamie submits to Randall’s demands, and ends up being repeatedly tortured and sexually assaulted by Randall. Claire, with the help of Jamie’s Highlander kin, eventually rescues her husband, and the two flee Scotland at the end of season one.
“I didn’t feel that supported, looking back at it in hindsight,” Heughan says.
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The actor went on to clarify that working on season one of the period drama, which first aired in 2014 and is based on the bestselling series of novels by Diana Gabaldon, was a “new” experience for everyone involved.
“We were making a new show, and I think … we were in a different environment,” Heughan says. “People were expecting more out of the show. They wanted to see more.”
“I think now, maybe less is more,” he added.
For the sixth season of Outlander, which premiered on March 6, Heughan, who is now also an executive producer on the long-running series, brought on intimacy coordinator Vanessa Coffey to help with the show’s sex scenes.
“It’s been fantastic having her on board,” Heughan says of Coffey’s involvement. “Not only to help facilitate those scenes, which can be kind of awkward and maybe even difficult, but actually, she’s really helped to explore the relationship … and how do we take the audience on a journey and let them feel that they’re getting a glimpse into a really intimate moment.”
The actor emphasises that sex and physical connection are integral to Jamie’s relationship with Claire.
The new season of Outlander sees Jamie and Claire (now living in colonial America) coming face to face with an old enemy.
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