Outlander: Blood of My Blood has been airing for a few weeks now, and two of the show’s stars have just opened up about the connection between their characters. Blood of My Blood serves as a prequel to Outlander, following the parents of Jamie and Claire, the leads of the original. The show explores two different timelines.
The first season of Outlander: Blood of My Blood just premiered on August 8 on Starz and now airs weekly. The show is created by Matthew B. Roberts. Pennyworth alum Harriet Slater portrays Jamie’s mother, Ellen MacKenzie, while Hermione Corfield plays Julia Moriston, Claire’s mom. Jamie Roy and Jeremy Irvine also star in the show.
According to TV Insider, Corfield and Slater both discussed why it was important for their characters to cross paths. Corfield stated that Julia feels similar to Ellen and carries feelings for Brian, while Slater discussed how it was important for Ellen to connect with someone because she doesn’t have many close friends, especially female ones. Check out both stars’ comments below:
Hermione Corfield: “I think she recognizes elements of herself in Ellen. I think they’re both women that sort of refused to be put in a box or tied down or told no. And I think she sees that. I also think… she respects Brian and has affection for him, and I think seeing this woman that clearly he’s so in love with touches her as well because she relates to that.”
Harriet Slater: “Ellen doesn’t get a lot of time to chat to other women. So it was a really nice moment of connection. I think she really found a confidant in Julia.”
What This Means For Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Both Slater and Corfield felt that Ellen and Julia sharing screen time was necessary to the overall narrative of Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Therefore, it feels likely that the two will continue to appear in scenes together as the prequel’s 10-episode first season progresses.
Starz’s Outlander series is based on the fantasy novel series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon.
Julia traveled back in time to the 18th century, since many Outlander characters have magical powers, and has now met Ellen in that time period. This may prove to bring some trouble for both characters, since people may begin to discover the existence of time travel. Also, based on her known fate in the original show, Julia may be facing a bitter end.
Ellen and Julia are both women who need a friend. Therefore, both actresses’ comments regarding their characters resonate. While their meeting may bring some trouble to the lives of both women, it seems as though they needed to meet in person for both of their narratives to work.
Slater and Corfield both seem to fully understand their characters and their motivations based on their recent comments. This makes perfect sense, since both of their performances in Outlander: Blood of My Blood feel lived in. This is a massive year for Outlander, one of Starz’s best shows, and only time will tell how the season of this prequel will unfold.
