With almost a decade shared on the set of the beloved Starz drama Outlander, Caitriona Balfe recently got abruptly candid about a less-than-complimentary first impression given by her co-star Sam Heughan. Baldly put, he had told her she looked “old” on-camera, a comment Balfe has apparently tucked away in her trove of behind-the-scenes memories, reluctant to let it vanish in the fog of the past.

While reminiscing on the early times of Outlander on the She Knows podcast, the duo was questioned about their initial impressions of each other whilst under lens scrutiny.

On being recalled as the ‘gatekeeper’ of this particular piece of history, Balfe ambiguously wrested the spotlight from her co-star jokingly. In a light-hearted manner, she quipped Heughan's naively veiled compliment or as she recalled, his response was “wow you look older on screen”.

Caught off guard, Heughan tried to soften the impact, reasoning it was probably a misdirected compliment from those days before their friendships had blossomed.

He ended the awkward exchange, jokingly deflecting his inappropriate comment by saying he found Balfe more attractive in real life compared to her on-screen character, to which Balfe responded in an equally tongue-in-cheek way.

Despite the slightly embarrassing recollection from the past that testified to the occasional rough patch in their fledgling camaraderie, Caitriona recalled their immediate ease with each other and Heughan's captivating on-screen persona.

Heughan, ever the co-conspirator in their playful verbal sparring, teased Balfe about trying to coax better behavior from him. 

The pair's harmonious connection, both on-screen and off, has been a cornerstone for the franchise since 2014. Yet, all good things eventually come to an end. The actors' tenure in their memorable roles of Jamie and Clare Fraser is drawing to a close with the advent of the show's eighth and final season. Though fans can find some solace in the highly anticipated second part of season seven, set to premiere in early 2024.