Fans of the time-travelling TV drama Outlander will be familiar with Irish model-turned-actress Caitríona Balfe but since starring in Kenneth Branagh's critically-acclaimed film, Belfast, she's fast becoming a household name. Noinated for a BAFTA in the Best Supporting Actress category, she's up against Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Ariana Debose (West Side Story), Ann Dowd (Mass), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), and Ruth Negga (Passing).
After learning of her nomination she thanked BAFTA for the 'incredible honour', posting on Twitter: 'I’m so proud to be amongst this fine group of actresses whose work has moved me and inspired me this year. So proud! And so happy for the rest of my Belfast family... six Noms!'
Here's everything you need to know about Caitríona Balfe...
Who is Caitríona Balfe?
Caitríona Balfe is a 42-year-old actress from Dublin. Whilst studying drama at The Dublin Institute of Technology, at age 18, she was offered work as a model in Paris. She detoured from an acting career and began walking down runways. After appearing in many runway shows and modelling for the likes of Chanel, Dolce & Gabbanna and Givenchy, Caitríona returned to her true passion, acting.
What has Caitríona Balfe featured in?
Caitríona Balfe has appeared in appeared in many films such as Super 8 and Now You See Me, as well as featuring as part of the main cast in web series H+: The Digital Series.
However, Caitríona is probably best known for her starring role as Claire in Outlander. The series started in 2014 and is currently on it’s sixth season. The show is based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, and follows Claire, a British World War II nurser, who is accidentally transported to Scotland in 1743, where she falls in love with Highland warrior Jamie (Sam Heughan).
Caitríona co-starred in Money Monster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts. She was also in as Le Mans ’66 (also known as Ford vs Ferrari) opposite Christian Bale.
In 2021 she took on her biggest role to date in Belfast playing ‘Ma', alongside Jamie Dorman’s ‘Pa’. Belfast is a drama focusing on the life of a working-class family during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. As well as her Leading Actress nod, Belfast has also been nominated for BAFTAs for Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Editing and Supporting Actor for Ciarán Hinds.
Belfast is one of the most-nominated films at this year’s BAFTAs alongside Dune and The Power of the Dog. Belfast was also nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture. (Although Caitríona was tipped for an Oscar nomination, she didn’t receive one.)
Who is Caitríona Balfe’s husband and do they have children?
Despite Outlander fans' high hopes for a real life relationship to blossom from the on screen romance between Caitríona and Sam Heughan, they are definitely just friends.
Caitríona is in fact married to her long-term partner, band manager Antony ‘Tony’ McGill. In August 2021, the couple welcomed their first child, a son, after keeping the pregnancy a secret from the public.
In a first person piece she wrote for The Wall Street Journal, she revealed that her family are 'slightly nomadic' as they don't have one fixed home but split their time across the UK. She wrote: 'Today my husband, Tony and I and our son are slightly nomadic. We split our time between Glasgow and London. When I'm working on Outlander, we're in London.'
Does Caitríona Balfe have social media?
Yes! She can be followed on Instagram on @caitrionabalfe and has a cool 1.8m followers. The actress shares updates on her career, fashion and occasional behind-the-scenes glimpses.
She also has a presence on Twitter as @caitrionambalfe where she posts more on news and politics - as well as Outlander updates. She is also a vocal supporter and patron of World Child Cancer.
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