Scottish "Outlander" Finds His Female Lead

Starz, in association with Sony Pictures Television, confirms that Irish supermodel, actress Caitriona Balfe will play lead character 'Claire Randall' in the upcoming series "Outlander," adapted from author Diana Gabaldon's international best-selling books. The show will premiere on Starz in 2014.

Actor Sam Heughan, whose credits include the BBC soap operas "Doctors" and "A Very British Sex Scandal," will play 18th century Scottish warrior 'Jamie Fraser':

"...following World War II, Brit Army nurse 'Claire Randall' and her husband 'Frank', an Oxford history professor who briefly worked for 'MI6', go on a second honeymoon to Inverness, Scotland. Scotland is of interest to Frank, because of his ancestor 'Black Jack Randall', who was a prominent captain in the British Army.

"While Frank goes over documents, Claire and a fellow amateur botanist go plant-gathering near a group of standing stones on the hill of 'Craigh na Dun'. The couple decide to visit the site together watching apagan ritual while concealed behind bushes.

"Claire returns the next day, becomes disoriented and faints when investigating a buzzing noise near the stones. Waking to the sound of battle in the distance. Struggling to make sense of her surroundings, she runs into a man claiming to be Captain Randal..."

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