Caitriona Balfe

Every so often, we - women in film and TV - get annoyed and frustrated. We kick up a fuss and make some gains. But then we become complacent, and things slide backwards again until the next generation comes up and gets frustrated again.

There's definitely stories I would like to tell; I'd like to see more films focusing on women's lives.

Fandom is amazing.

The 'Outlander' fans are super-passionate.

How do people move on after they've lost the love of their life? It's a really interesting thing to look at. It happens to people every day: you see people... even in the worst, most war-torn places, people get up and continue with their lives. And it's a fascinating thing about human nature. That ability to just continue on.

So often, women are there just to be looked at and be objectified for the titillation of the male audience.

When I was a kid, I loved 'Little Women.'

I have two incredible sisters who have very high-powered jobs and kids and, you know, both have their master's; one runs triathlons all the time.

I'm just so glad that I started acting when I did because I had this wealth of life experience. I don't know if I'd have been able to handle it had I gone out to L.A. at 22.

I'm kind of a private person.

The idea was always to be an actor.

I guess I always leaned to the theatrical.

You'll probably find most models are incredibly insecure about their bodies.

While 'Outlander' is a brilliant period show, Claire represents so many qualities of a 10th century modern-day woman: someone who is forging her own path, fighting for what she believes, and doing so with integrity.

It's a hard thing to imagine how somebody copes with grief and at the same time has to build a new life.

I grew up in Ireland, and there were so many things we believed in.

I never thought of myself doing period. When you're in your acting classes, and you think about the kind of roles you want to play, it's always 'modern relationship drama'-type things.

I moved to Paris for two years, then to London, then New York in 2002. In that time, I also lived in Japan, Italy, Germany - I've been a bit of a gypsy.

It's great to play someone who's so unafraid of being who she is.

When I'm not on a crazy schedule, I'll try to do yoga or the gym once or twice a week.