How Did Brian Mccardie Outlander Prepare For His Role As Murtagh?

Watching Sam Heughan become Jamie Fraser in 'Outlander' felt like seeing someone utterly committed to turning words on a page into a living, breathing person. I dove into interviews and behind-the-scenes pieces and what stands out most is how layered his preparation was—physical, historical, and emotional. He read Diana Gabaldon's novels thoroughly to get Jamie's internal rhythms and backstory down, but he didn’t stop at plot points; he tried to understand Jamie’s moral compass, loyalties, and the quieter reactions beneath the bravado. That gave his choices on camera a grounded, lived-in quality. On the physical side, he bulked up and trained hard. There are tons of scenes that demand real stamina—horse riding over rough terrain, brutal hand-to-hand fights, and long takes in bad weather—so he worked with riding coaches and fight choreographers to make those moments convincing and safe. The swordplay and the grappling feel rough and authentic because of that investment. He also leaned into a more rugged, outdoorsman routine: weight training, conditioning, and learning to move like someone used to manual labor and combat. His fitness brand, which promotes outdoor challenges, kind of reflects how seriously he treats physical preparation. What I appreciate most is his emotional work. Jamie isn’t just a tough Highlander; he has traumas, vulnerabilities, and a fierce tenderness for Claire. Sam talked about building trust with Caitríona Balfe to make their chemistry and intimacy believable, and he allowed Jamie’s tenderness and rage to coexist. That balancing act—being both a warrior and a person who loves fiercely—comes from study, rehearsal, and a willingness to be vulnerable on camera. It’s why Jamie still feels like a real person rather than a fantasy hero, and it’s part of why I keep coming back to the show.

That mix-up pops up a lot in fan circles, and I get why people ask it — both actors are Scottish and have that same grizzled, weathered presence. To be clear: Brian McCardie did not play Murtagh in the TV series 'Outlander'. The character Murtagh Fraser on the Starz show is portrayed by Duncan Lacroix, whose performance captures that loyal, blunt, and stubborn heart of Jamie's godfather. If you dig into credits or IMDB, you'll see Duncan Lacroix listed for Murtagh, especially in the early seasons where the character is central to Jamie's backstory and the Highland scenes. Brian McCardie is a well-known Scottish actor with a long resume, so it's an easy identity-swap to make when skimming cast lists or discussions. I still catch myself double-checking casting occasionally, but once you spot Lacroix onscreen you can’t unsee his particular take on Murtagh — gruff, dry, and oddly tender. That performance stuck with me for ages.

Catching Brian McCardie's name in the credits felt like a little gift — he first joined the cast of 'Outlander' in 2018 when the show moved into its fourth season's production. I remember being excited because the fourth season expanded the world and brought in a bunch of talented guest and recurring players to flesh out the colonial-era storylines. His addition fit right into that wave of new faces and helped ground some of those scenes with a familiar, strong presence. Beyond the date, what I loved was how his scenes read on screen: he brought a rugged, lived-in quality that matched the show's tone. Seeing actors like him join during that season made the series feel bigger and more layered. All in all, knowing he came aboard in 2018 makes those episodes a little more special to me — they feel like the point where the show opened its doors wider and welcomed a broader, grittier cast, which I really enjoyed.

Big fan moment here — if you want short clips of Brian McCardie's moments from 'Outlander', start with the official sources because they usually have the best quality and legal uploads. Starz runs the show and sometimes posts scene highlights on the Starz YouTube channel and their official site or app. Search the Starz channel for 'Brian McCardie' or 'Outlander' and you’ll often find promos, behind-the-scenes bits, or short scene clips. I also check the episode pages on the Starz website where they sometimes include video extras and scene previews. Beyond that, YouTube is a treasure trove: fan uploads, scene compilations, and sometimes clips pulled from interviews where the actor talks about his role. Use search terms like 'Brian McCardie Outlander scene' plus the episode number or season if you know it — that narrows the results nicely. If you prefer full episodes, buying or renting on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV/iTunes, or Google Play lets you scrub to his scenes, and often those stores provide short previews too. I usually combine official clips and a few fan-made edits to get both context and the best emotional moments — his deliveries always stick with me.

If you want interviews where Brian McCardie talks about his work on 'Outlander', I usually start with the official sources because they tend to host the most focused material. Starz's own channels — their press site and YouTube channel — often have cast interviews, roundtables, and press-junket clips where supporting cast members, including Brian, discuss their characters and the historical context. Those clips are short, clipped for press, and great for hearing what he thought about costume, dialect, and working with the rest of the clan. Beyond the network, regional outlets are gold: Scottish newspapers and broadcasters tend to interview actors from 'Outlander' when series or seasons drop. Look for archived pieces from places like The Scotsman, STV, and Radio Times online; they usually run profiles and Q&As. Finally, fan-focused podcasts and YouTube channels that do episode recaps and cast interviews sometimes invite or clip interviews with him. I tend to bookmark the ones that include closed captions so I can quote them later — his take on character motivations was surprisingly nuanced and made me appreciate Colum's complexities even more.

I got pulled into 'Outlander' the way you get pulled into a favorite book and then surprised by how an actor reshapes things on screen. Brian McCardie's take on the character leans heavier on weathered reality and small gestures rather than the long internal monologues the novel gives. Where the book often lets you live inside the character's head — thoughts, rationalizations, tender memories — McCardie's performance externalizes that inner life: a pause, a look, a clenched jaw. It makes the character feel more immediate and sometimes gruffer, which works well for the medium but can flatten a few of the book's subtler psychological layers. Adaptation-wise, scenes that are drawn out or full of exposition in the novel get trimmed or reworked, so some of the motivations that felt clear on the page need to be inferred on screen. Costuming and physicality also shift emphasis: McCardie's body language and how he uses silence fill gaps the script can’t afford to explain. For me, that trade-off mostly succeeds — I enjoy the live-wire energy he brings — but I do miss the book's quieter interior moments that made the character feel multi-dimensional in a different way.