Outlander star Heughan goes back to his roots on Edinburgh stage

Sam Heughan is used to being centre stage.

As the dashing Jamie Fraser in the time-travelling drama Outlander, he has a global fan base which has allowed him to sell out a special fundraising evening to mark the 60th anniversary of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.

But as a teenager in the 1990s, he was more likely to be found backstage than onstage, as a member of the Lyceum Youth Theatre.

The actor was so keen to be in the theatre, he even worked as an usher and sold ice creams to audiences during the interval.

"I was determined to get an education in theatre and what better way to get to see theatre for free, night after night, just to watch," he said.

"I remember sitting in the wings and watching so many great performers, like Caroline Devlin in Three Sisters."

It was there, decades before brandishing the Fraser broadsword, he made his first appearance in front of an audience - wielding a different weapon as "spear carrier number two" during a production of Macbeth aged 18.

He applied to a number of drama schools – and was especially keen to go to London – but an audition for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (then the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) made him realise that was the place for him.

"I just felt at home from the moment I walked into the building," he said.

"I walked past the building the other day, and you can hear the opera music and the musicians and the actors and there's just so much energy there."

One of his proudest moments was being given an honorary doctorate in 2022 and he has since created a number of scholarships to support aspiring artists.

"I know how difficult it is to get the training to get into the business.

"It's expensive and you have to support yourself, so these scholarships help."

He also now hopes to support the next generation of Scottish writers with a script award.

"We're always waiting as actors for the phone to ring with an audition and a lot of the time you might be best to create some work yourself, so that's what I wanted to encourage."

Outlander will draw to a close next month after eight seasons and 101 episodes – 12 years after Heughan made his first appearance as Highland warrior Fraser.

Heughan said he did not predict the show would last beyond the first two series.

Nor could he predict the devotion fans would lavish on the show and its characters.

Heughan has his own following – Heuligans – as well as the wider Outlandish following which has boomed on social media since the show began.

"The first time we ever experienced it was when we were shooting the first season and we went to Los Angeles to do an event and there were thousands of people at the back of this theatre waiting for us," he said.

"Diana Gabaldon's books have always had a huge following but the show reached out to people who maybe didn't know the books.

"The support has been amazing. "I'm glad I was so naïve. I didn't have any idea what it would be when we I got on this rollercoaster, but it's taken me to some amazing places."

The show has left a legacy, both in the film industry thanks to training opportunities, and on the tourism industry due to the huge numbers of fans who visit Scotland to see places associated with the show.

The "Outlander effect" is set to continue as the show branches into a prequel story about the parents of the original hero Jamie, and his wife Claire, played by Caitriona Balfe.

But for the pair, this is the final chapter.

Heughan says he's never felt constricted by the character. He's published books, launched his own distillery in Galloway where he grew up, and appeared in other acting roles.

But he said he was ready to move on from the role which has dominated his life for more than a decade.

"Outlander gave me so much," he said.

"I'm really thankful for it. Obviously, our schedule was really full-on so it was hard to fit other projects in but I was lucky to do some movies and other TV shows and the business side creating the Galloway Distillery and the Sassenach brand which has been a passion project of mine.

"But I'm also ready to do new things and it feels good to come back to where it all began."

First up is an action thriller for Amazon, title Embassy, alongside Anna Kendrick and JK Simmons which will begin filming in Germany next month.

He is also keen to return to the stage.

Last year, the 18-year-old "second spear carrier" found himself playing the lead in the Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of Macbeth.

"It was just spectacular," he said.

"It was one of those dream moments when you have to pinch yourself. It's a tough old play but really rewarding.

"I think every actor wants to do something different from what they're doing. Film and TV has challenges but it's nice to have a trailer and someone to make you cups of tea.

"But I also love being back on stage and I'd love to do more theatre."