Caitrona Mary Balfe, an Irish actress, producer, and former model, was born on October 4, 1979. She is best known for playing the lead character Claire Fraser in the Starz historical drama series Outlander (2014–present), for which she won three Saturn Awards, two People's Choice Awards, an Irish Film and Television Award, and the British Academy Scotland Award. She was also nominated for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama and two Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Actress.
At the age of eighteen, Balfe was given a job as a fashion model in Paris while he was enrolled at the Dublin Institute of Technology's drama program. Before turning her attention back to acting, she spent 10 years appearing in commercials and on the catwalks for labels like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Bottega Veneta, and Oscar de la Renta. In addition to appearing in the movies Super 8 (2011), Now You See Me (2013), Escape Plan (2013), Money Monster (2016), Ford v Ferrari (2019), and Belfast (2021), she had starring parts in the web series The Beauty Inside (2012) and H+: The Digital Series (2012-2013).
Early Years
Balfe was raised in a family of seven outside the village of Tydavnet, close to Monaghan Town, after being born in Dublin. The fourth of five kids, she. Her father was a former sergeant with the Garda. After enrolling at Dublin Institute of Technology to study acting, she was discovered by a scout for models.
Career Modelling
Balfe began modeling after being discovered by an agent while she was raising money for charity at a nearby mall. After a few months of working as a model in Dublin when she was 18, she attracted the eye of a Ford Models scout who was in town and was given the opportunity to work for them in Paris.
The opening and closing fashion shows for Chanel, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Alberta Ferretti, and Louis Vuitton are among Balfe's modeling career highlights. She participated in more than 250 runway shows over a three-year period. Balfe was one of the twenty most sought-after models in the world at the height of her career.
Acting
Balfe, who resided in New York, had a small part in the 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada as a worker for the publication Runway. Balfe moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2009, returning to her original career choice after a decade in modeling. During her first year and a half in the city, she only attended acting classes at the Warner Loughlin Studios, Sanford Meisner Center, and Judith Weston Studios. In the movies Super 8, Now You See Me, and Escape Plan, Balfe plays the CIA lawyer Sylvester Stallone's character employs. She also plays the mother of the protagonist in Super 8 and the wife of Michael Caine's character in Now You See Me.
She played Alex #34 in the social drama The Beauty Inside, which was split into six parts and was released in 2012. It is about a man named Alex (Topher Grace) who wakes up in a different body each day. She appeared in the music videos for "Chloroform" by the French band Phoenix and "First Fires" by British musician Bonobo in 2013, the latter of which was directed by Sofia Coppola.
In 2012 and 2013, Balfe played Breanna Sheehan, one of the CEOs of a biotechnology business that creates an implantable computer that enables people to be linked to the Internet 24 hours a day, in the Warner Bros. online series H+: The Digital Series.
Outlander, a Starz television drama series based on novels written by Diana Gabaldon, debuted in August 2014, and Balfe was cast as Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser in September 2013. She portrays a mid-20th century nurse who is taken to the Scottish Highlands in the middle of the eighteenth century at a time of war. Critics have praised both the show and her performance, with Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair writing that "it helps immensely that Balfe is such an appealing actress, makes Claire a spirited, principled, genuinely heroic heroine" Balfe is "reasonable to watch; she's a confident actress who brings various shades to her character," according to Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter. Balfe's portrayal was praised by Time's James Poniewozik as "wry, infectiously engaging." Balfe was dubbed "one of the most stunning actresses on television" by Angelica Jade Bastién of The New York Times.
Balfe was chosen as one of the "12 Breakout Stars of 2014" by Entertainment Weekly in December. The same month, she won the "Woman Of The Year" award at BBC America's Anglophenia Fan Favorites competition.
Balfe was recognized as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" and garnered nominations for Best Actress in a Lead Role Drama and Rising Star Award at the 12th Irish Film & Television Awards in April 2015. In 2015 and 2016, she was honored with Saturn Awards for her work in television. Balfe received the Scottish BAFTA for Best Actress in Television in November 2016 and the Irish IFTA for Best Actress in a Lead Role Drama in February 2018. For her work in Outlander, Balfe was nominated four times for a Golden Globe for Best Actress - Television Series Drama.
Balfe co-starred with George Clooney and Julia Roberts in the 2016 Jodie Foster picture Money Monster. She portrayed the head of PR for a business whose stock plunges, prompting a man to lose all of his savings and go on to kidnap others on live television. But relative newcomer Balfe makes the biggest impression; she's magnetic, stealing scenes even when her character is only hinted at reacting to the situation on a background monitor, according to Eric Hills of The Movie Waffler. In the upcoming years, expect to see a lot more of this Irish actress.
The fantasy series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix featured Balfe as Tavra in a recurring voice role in 2019. The Jim Henson Company's animated television series, which served as a prequel to the 1982 fantasy picture The Dark Crystal, was well-received by critics. She starred alongside Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the sports drama movie Ford v Ferrari in 2019. Balfe was nominated for a Best Actress in a Supporting Role IFTA award for her portrayal of Mollie Miles, the wife of professional racing car driver Ken Miles. After its debut, the movie won plaudits from critics everywhere and was considered for the Best Picture Oscar.
Balfe drew praise from critics for her co-starring part in Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical movie Belfast in 2021. Balfe's "modest, affable performance" was praised by Vanity Fair critic Richard Lawson. She received nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the British Academy Film Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award for her work. The movie received a Best Picture nomination for the 94th Academy Awards. Since June 2022, she has belonged to the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Private life
Balfe started acting professionally in Los Angeles and has since resided in New York City, Paris, London, Milan, Hamburg, and Tokyo while working as a model. As of 2014, she is located in Glasgow. She is fluent in French and speaks Irish in addition to her home language of English.
Balfe wed Anthony "Tony" McGill, the manager of a Scottish band, on August 10, 2019. On August 18, 2021, she made a birth announcement for their son.
In an interview, Balfe was questioned about her spirituality. I would say I am spiritual, but I have long abandoned institutionalized religion, Balfe replied. I firmly believe in the universe's intrinsic kindness.
Charitable work and Other Endeavors
She supports the cause of World Child Cancer. She participated in the London Marathon in April 2018 and raised more than $41,000 for the charity.
She also actively supports environmental organizations and ChooseLove, a charity that raises money to help refugees around the world in need. She also supports charitable causes for refugee relief. Project CaiTREEna, an annual birthday fundraising effort, was begun by fans in October 2020 to raise money for the environmental organization One Tree Planted. Over 150,000 trees have been planted worldwide thanks to the more than $150,000 that have already been raised in her honor.
Forget Me Not, a Scottish-based small batch gin that Balfe introduced in August 2020, will donate 25% of its profits to arts programs.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2006 | The Devil Wears Prada | Clacker | Uncredited |
2009 | Picture Me | Herself | Documentary; also producer |
A Herculean Effort | Emily | Short film | |
2011 | Super 8 | Elizabeth Lamb | |
Lust Life | Aubrey | Short film | |
2012 | The Wolf | Sally | |
Lost Angeles | Véronique | ||
2013 | Crush | Andie | |
Now You See Me | Jasmine Tressler | ||
Escape Plan | Jessica Miller | ||
2015 | The Price of Desire | Gabrielle Bloch | |
2016 | Money Monster | Diane Lester | |
2019 | Ford v Ferrari | Molly Miles | |
2020 | Angela's Christmas Wish | Dorothy's Mother | Voice |
2021 | Belfast | Ma |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2010 | The Model Scouts | Herself / Runway Mentor | Cycle 2, Episode 2 |
2012 | The Beauty Inside | Alex #34 | Main role; 5 episodes |
2012–2013 | H+: The Digital Series | Breanna Sheehan | Main role; 7 episodes |
2014–present | Outlander | Claire Beauchamp Fraser | Lead role; 67 episodes |
2019 | The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | Tavra | Voice; 9 episodes |
2019 | The Christmas Letter | Ellie | Voice; Television film |
Awards and nominations
Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
2015 | Outlander | BBC America Anglophenia Fan Favourite Awards | Woman Of The Year | Won |
The Anglophile Channel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series | Won | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Won | ||
Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role Drama | Nominated | ||
Rising Star Award | Nominated | |||
EWwy Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Television Ensemble | Won | ||
Women's Image Network Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Won | ||
Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role Drama | Nominated | ||
The Anglophile Channel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series | Won | ||
EWwy Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
British Academy Scotland Awards | Best Actress on Television | Won | ||
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
Oscar Wilde Awards | — | Awarded | ||
Women's Image Network Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role TV Drama | Nominated | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Nominated | ||
2018 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Nominated | |
Women's Image Network Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a TV Drama Series//Genre Series | Nominated | ||
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role TV Drama | Won | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Nominated | ||
2019 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Nominated | |
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on a Television Series | Nominated | ||
2020 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role TV Drama | Nominated | |
Ford v Ferrari | Best Actress in a Supporting Role Film | Nominated | ||
Outlander | Women's Image Network Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
Film/Show Produced by a Woman | Nominated | |||
Gold Derby Awards | Best Drama Actress | Nominated | ||
2021 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress In A Science Fiction/Fantasy Series | Nominated | |
Satellite Awards | Actress in a Series, Drama/Genre | Nominated | ||
46th Annual Gracie Awards | Actress in a Leading Role – Drama | Won | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Won | ||
Belfast | Napa Valley Film Festival Awards | Spotlight Award | Awarded | |
Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Virtuosos Award | Awarded | ||
Palm Springs International Film Festival | Vanguard Award | Awarded | ||
British Independent Film Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Actress | Won | ||
Online Association of Female Film Critics | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Best Acting Ensemble | Nominated | |||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Best Ensemble | Nominated | |||
Critics' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Best Acting Ensemble | Won | |||
Las Vegas Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Iowa Film Critics Association | Won | |||
IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Nominated | |||
North Dakota Film Society | Nominated | |||
Hawaii Film Critics Circle | Nominated | |||
Golden Globe Awards | Nominated | |||
British Academy Film Awards | Nominated | |||
Chicago Film Critics Association | Nominated | |||
Indiana Film Journalists Association | Nominated | |||
Phoenix Critics Circle | Nominated | |||
Columbus Film Critics Association | Nominated | |||
AACTA International Awards | Nominated | |||
Hollywood Critics Association | Nominated | |||
Best Ensemble Cast | Won | |||
Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | Nominated | |||
Best Ensemble Cast | Nominated | |||
2022 | Online Film and Television Association | Nominated | ||
Outlander | Saturn Awards | Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television | Nominated | |
BAFTA Scotland Award | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
Women's Image Network Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Irish Film and Television Awards | Lead Actress Drama | Pending |
Quick Bio
Nickname | Caitriona |
Gender | Female |
Age | 43 years old (in 2023) |
Date of Birth | October 4, 1979 |
Full Name | Caitriona Balfe |
Profession | Actress, Model |
Nationality | Lrish |
Birthplace | Monaghan, Ireland |
Religion | Christianity |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
College | Dublin Institute of Technology |
Profession | Actress, Model |
Net Worth | USD $4 million Approx |
Height, Weight & Physical Stats
Body Measurements | 34-25-35 Inches |
Body type | Slim |
Height | 5 Feet 10 Inches (1.77 m) |
Weight | 59 kg (130 lbs) |
Waist | 25 Inches |
Hair Color | Brown |
Eye Color | Blue |
Shoe Size | 9.5 (US) |
Dress Size | 4 (US) |
Family & Relatives
Father | Retired Garda Sergeant |
Sister | Anne Marie |
Marital Status | Married |
Husband | Tony McGill (m. 2019) |
Caitriona Balfe Favorites
Hobbies | Music, Drama |
Favorite Destination | Big Sur |
Favorite Color | Blue |
Facts
Balfe began her career as a model. She was found soliciting donations for a charity in a Dublin neighborhood mall.
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2002 included Caitriona.
She was raised in the village of Tydavnet, close to Monaghan, after her birth in Dublin.
Her grandma served as a nurse during the Second World War.
Balfe is trilingual—speaking English, French, and Irish Gaelic.
She was able to travel to several well-known locations thanks to her modeling job, including New York, Paris, London, Milan, Hamburg, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.
In 2015, Balfe was listed among the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine.
She had no interest for modeling. She progressively lost interest in it as a result, leading to frustration.
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