Meeting Caitríona Balfe, star of Outlander and The Amateur with Rami Malek

Violaine Schütz.

With her striking beauty and expressive face, Caitríona Balfe first made a name for herself in the modeling world. She started at 19 and spent a decade in fashion. Signed with Ford Model Management in Paris and Elite in New York, she walked for and shot campaigns with Calvin Klein, Chanel, Oscar de La Renta, Max Mara, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, and Dries Van Noten. Without being a household name, she became one of the most in-demand models of the 2000s.

From the Runway to Outlander

However, modeling was never a calling for the now 45-year-old Irish actress with porcelain skin. She has said in interviews: “Modeling was never a passion of mine because it quickly led to all sorts of frustrations.” A stroke of luck for the film industry… Even though Hollywood first offered her roles as the token pretty girl. She debuted as a magazine assistant in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)—mostly showing off her long legs in towering heels.

But directors were soon drawn to her soft intensity and piercing blue eyes. She appeared in Super 8 by J.J. Abrams, Now You See Me (2013), Money Monster (2016) directed by Jodie Foster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts, Ford v Ferrari (2019) by James Mangold alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon, and Belfast (2021) by Kenneth Branagh.

It was a TV series that catapulted her to fame. Since 2014, Caitríona Balfe has played Claire Fraser in Outlander, a brave WWII nurse who defies 1940s conventions and gender limitations. This romantic, time-traveling heroine living out an intense passion with a Scottish warrior earned her four Golden Globe nominations.

A Charismatic Hacker in The Amateur

But Caitríona Balfe’s range goes far beyond period gowns and emotional tears. She proves it again in The Amateur, a gripping thriller hitting theaters April 9, 2025. The premise? “Charlie Heller, a brilliant but introverted CIA cryptographer, has his world turned upside down when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack in London. Frustrated by his agency’s inaction, he takes matters into his own hands and sets out on a global manhunt for the assassins.”

On this dangerous journey, the timid hero (played by Rami Malek) finds an unexpected ally in Inquiline, a solitary hacker living in Istanbul portrayed by Caitríona Balfe. Not only does she help Charlie hunt down his wife’s killers, but she also rekindles his will to live. Just days before the film’s release, the actress spoke with us about her friendship with the Bohemian Rhapsody star and her approach to choosing roles.

Interview with Caitríona Balfe

Numéro: What drew you to The Amateur?

Caitríona Balfe: When I received the script, I found it a riveting read, and the genre approach—spy thriller—was unique. Charlie Heller (played by Rami Malek) is such an interesting character. He’s unusual for this kind of film—a really smart, geeky guy turned action hero. Inquiline, the character I play, is just as atypical. She’s incredibly layered. Even though she appears in only part of the film, I felt there was something compelling I could do with her. She intrigued me.

Your character, Inquiline, a hacker with a mysterious past, is quite complex…

I think when we meet her, she’s clearly someone who’s suffered a major loss—her husband—and is profoundly broken. In many ways, she’s withdrawn from life and the world, very guarded. But at the same time, she’s a fierce opponent of corruption and actively exposes the lies and wrongdoing of powerful institutions (like the CIA). That duality was really interesting to explore—someone who hides from the world but also displays great courage and moral clarity. So yes, there’s a lot of depth to her.

“There’s not much you can do to prepare other than hope you’re fit enough to run as fast as the director wants you to.” Caitríona Balfe

How did you prepare for the action scenes, especially the car chase?

Those scenes are always fun. There’s not much you can do to prepare other than hope you’re fit enough to run as fast as the director wants you to. The adrenaline kicks in, and when they yell “action,” you just run like hell, hoping not to let anyone down. The stunt team was incredible and worked closely with James (Hawes, our director) to plan everything meticulously. So when they explain exactly what they want, you follow their lead. The setting—Istanbul—was stunning and unique. The escape through all those small homes was a brilliant concept.

No stunt-related accidents on set?

No, we were kept safe.

“I’ve known Rami for a while and always hoped we’d get to work together.” Caitríona Balfe

Rami Malek suggested casting you in the film. What’s your relationship like? 

He’s a brilliant and wonderful actor. And generous. I’ve known Rami for a while and always hoped we’d get to work together. When they sent me the script, I was thrilled. He brings an amazing presence to a scene. He’s also incredibly kind and lovely. We had a fantastic working relationship. Our characters in The Amateur share a strong connection, and we found that chemistry quickly, which was great.

Were you a fan of spy thrillers before joining The Amateur?

My dad was a huge fan of spy movies. Growing up, if the only TV in the house was on and you wanted to watch something, you had to watch what he was watching. So yes, I’ve always enjoyed the genre. Over the years, there have been so many variations on spy films that there’s always something interesting to discover.

“I hope the days when women served only to support male characters with no depth are over.” Caitríona Balfe

Whether it’s Claire in Outlander or Inquiline in The Amateur, you seem to gravitate toward roles where women aren’t just accessories. Is this a feminist choice?

I’m simply interested in portraying real women—women with agency. So if that’s seen as a feminist approach, then yes, it is. But I think it’s important that each character I play feels real, three-dimensional, and like there’s something compelling about her. I’m so grateful to have found a place in this industry and to see my career take off. And I’m happy that more and more female characters are being written this way. I don’t think everything is perfect—far from it. There’s still work to be done. But I do hope the era of women existing solely to support male characters, without any depth, is behind us.

The Amateur, directed by James Hawes, in theaters April 9, 2025. Outlander, created by Ronald D. Moore, available on Netflix.