Trust the key to those Outlander scenes

When you’re shooting intimate sex scenes that require full nudity, with both women and men, you’d better make sure you have the trust of your co-stars and your crew.

Just ask Sam Heughan, the ever-popular hero of Outlander. But he of the matinee-idol looks has a background in theatre, which he draws upon when filming the period drama.

In the first Season, Jamie Fraser spent almost an entire episode in bed with co-star Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and two more at the grisly hands of the obsessed “Black Jack” Randall (Tobias Menzies).

“We were very aware that we didn’t want anything intimate or violent to be gratuitous, we wanted it to have a purpose and reveal something of the characters. Also to move their relationship forward. So they were vey well-thought-out and well-discussed and rehearsed scenes,” he said.

“Ultimately on the day you’ve got to kind of go for it. The poor camera crew sitting by the camera for long periods! There are levels of concentration that’s required.”

Harrowing scenes of torture and sex concluded the season but Heughan says he and Menzies adopted a meticulous and respectful approach, in order to get the scenes in the can.

“We both come from a theatre background, so we rehearsed it and discussed it with the writer and director,” he explains.

“Their battle has always been about power”

“Those scenes aren’t just about male rape. It’s more about two characters battling each other, and the slow destruction of Jamie’s character –not just physically, but mentally- to the point that Randall has broken his mind.

“Their battle has always been about power. Randall’s obsessed with Jamie, because Jamie won’t break. He’s a worthy adversary. There’s a strange honour between them as well, but it’s broken by Randall, by breaking his word. It is really a reflection of the men of that time. You lived and died by your word and your actions.”

Outlander has been a breakout hit for Starz, attracting legions of fans beyond those who were drawn to Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling book. Fusing romance, action, sweeping vistas and time travel, it is an eclectic yet compelling mix of TV drama.

“It sort of changes and surprises people. You watch the first episode and think it’s a 1940s drama and then it moves to a drama in a castle. But before you know it you’re on the road and up in the highlands,” says Heughan.

“So I think that’s the joy of the show: it’s hard to say it’s one thing. It constantly moves and changes your perception, and the characters change as well. We learn much more about them.

“The end of Season One is very surprising, and Season Two likewise will surprise viewers and keep moving forward.

“But it all goes back to the storytelling of (showrunner) Ronald D. Moore and Diana Gabaldon’s great books.”

“It has taken over my life, really.”

Heughan has been at work on the show for three years now, and the commitment is all-consuming.

“We worked almost 12 months straight through. We only had a couple of weeks off at Christmas and New Year,” he recalls.

“Because we’re on location in the Highlands it’s pretty tough conditions to shoot in and long days. Certainly we’ve got an amazing crew and cast and with the intensive shoot and subject matter, we’ve gotten very close and there’s a great bond and trust between us. I think you need that to shoot those kinds of scenes.

“It has taken over my life, really. Other things go by the wayside. So it’s tough, but also really rewarding. We’re on a press tour around the world so that’s really gratifying.

“You work on things for so long that you sometimes forget people are watching your work or anticipating it. It’s great to see that fan support and interest.

“I’m very aware, being a jobbing actor, that at any point it could all not be as successful. So I guess it’s just about enjoying every moment.”

With the fame comes opportunities, such as Hollywood script offers, but being in the spotlight also attracts other trappings too.

“There’s the occasional paparazzi or autograph hunters, but generally I really enjoy it. There can be moments when you’d rather be more private. I certainly am a private person and enjoy anonymity as an actor. (Popularity is) a side I am learning about. I enjoy it, I embrace it.

“Yes, Outlander has given us a lot of opportunity. I’m lucky, we’ve had some interesting discussions, and I guess we will see what happens in the future. It’s certainly opened up a lot of doors.”

“There are more elements of time travel and the battle to stop time.”

With heightened fan fever there is also caution not to disclose season spoilers. Even its star has to watch what he says. But season 2 sees Jamie and Claire in Paris, hell-bent on infiltrating the Jacobite rebellion led by Prince Charles Stuart, and stopping the battle of Culloden.

“Season Two really starts to ramp up. Now we know what happened in the future, so our characters are trying to stop fate. We see a lot more of the ripples of actions now having an effect further down the line in time,” he continues.

“There are more elements of time travel and the battle to stop time.

“The second part of the season is back in Scotland and there is a great alternative to the first half. The fate and time begins to run out for them.

“It’s a very different world. Jamie and Claire are kind of not themselves. They’re trying to be different people, and they slowly to learn to be deceitful and enter into this high society. But it certainly drives a wedge between the two of them and they lose track of each other.

“They’re also dealing with a lot of stuff privately –Jamie with the traumas of season one, and Claire being pregnant it really is quite tough, privately and publicly.”

Asked if he sees himself on the show for some time yet, Heughan gives cause for optimism.

“As long as they’ll have me. We’ve now done 2 seasons and 2 books. There are 8 books and Diana is writing a 9th I think. So we’ll see, it’s a long process,” he smiles.

“As long as people enjoy the show and story we’re telling, I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Outlander returns 8:30pm Sunday on SoHo.