Outlander star Catriona Balfe has shared an exciting update on the upcoming eighth season of the popular historical drama show ahead of season seven airing. Its eighth instalment will be the last of the Starz show, with the cast bidding a sad farewell.
Catriona, noted for playing leading lady Claire Fraser, revealed during appearing on Irish chat show The Late Late Show that filming for the next and final season will begin sooner than you may think in just a few month's time
"We're about to start shooting, in a few months, our eighth season but our seventh season is starting to air on June 16,"she said.
Show host Ryan Tubridy remarked that she looked "very happy" when talking about the show, she replied, "I do, yeah," before going on to detail the impact the show has had on her career.
The 43-year-old said: "It's changed my life. I was very late to start acting. I changed my career at 30, which is usually the age when people say 'You haven't made it, it's over,' and it gave me everything. It's opened so many doors for me.
"This job, it's a joy. I've worked with the same people pretty much now for ten years, that's my gang, that's my crew. And this character, she's incredible."
"I've gotten to do so much and been so stretched as an actor because of who she is," she added.
The hit Starz show, originally brought to life from Diana Gabaldon's book series, has been a huge part of the actress' life since it first aired back in 2014 and has seen her strike up a close friendship with her on-screen lover Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser.
The pair have been open over the years about their close-knit relationship both on and off screen, however, they have always insisted they are just "really great friends" despite fans likely thrilled to think otherwise.
Caitríona previously told Elle: "Sam's just so kind. He's a really good friend. He always checks in. I don't know, he has one of the biggest hearts and smallest egos that I know .
"I feel very lucky. Sam and I have an amazing bond, we're really great friends."
Scottish acting hunk Sam has also similarly spoken about their friendship when the camera are off. "Caitríona and I get on very well, and I'm very lucky," he told PopSugar. "She's extremely talented and an extremely nice person, and we have a lot of fun.
"Actually, having scenes away from her, and time apart from her, is kind of like losing someone in your family . A loved one. It's very strange, and I don't enjoy it. Whenever we're together it feels right, and I look forward to the days when we get to work together again."
When can fans expect to see Season 7 land?
Fans are gearing up for season seven to premier shortly, following the dreaded 'droughtlander' which left fans scrambling for answers at the end of season six.
The new series will consist of 16 episodes and will be split into two parts - with the first half hitting the small screen next month on June 16 and the second half airing in 2024.
The new series will pick up from the events of season six, which saw Claire on trial for the murder of Malva Christie while Jamie embarks on a journey to save her with the help of Young Ian and John Quincy Myers.
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