Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have undeniable onscreen chemistry as Jamie and Claire Fraser in Outlander. It’s so electric that fans have been convinced for years that this must translate over into real-life. Although they’ve been starring as onscreen lovers for nearly a decade since Outlander’s 2014 premiere, Sam and Caitriona are still plagued by dating rumors on a regular basis. And the actors admit it’s annoying.
Both Sam and Caitriona have denied that they’ve ever dated, but some fans are convinced that there’s evidence to suggest otherwise. Here’s everything we know about Sam and Caitriona’s off-screen relationship.
Sam and Caitriona Admit They Had “Instantaneous” Chemistry
It’s not only the fans who’ve picked up on Sam and Caitriona’s sizzling onscreen chemistry. The actors also admit they have a strong connection, which was apparent from the beginning.
Speaking to TheWrap’s Drinking with the Stars, Caitriona previously admitted, "[The chemistry] was quite instantaneous in a sense.”
"He's just that kind of solid, grounded guy," she said of her co-star, admitting her put her “at ease” quickly.
During an Instagram Live with Sam, Caitriona opened up about her first memories of working on Outlander, and he immediately came to mind. "The first time, I remember, honestly was meeting you,” she explained. "We were in the stables, and you came in and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves in for.”
In response, Sam said, "We were both a little shy and nervous and had no idea and it was just, this is gonna be my telly wife for the next five, six years!"
They Swear They’ve Never Dated And Are Just Best Friends
Sam and Caitriona have been plagued with dating rumors since Outlander debuted a decade ago. But the actors have been adamant that there’s never been a romantic connection between them.
During their interview for the cover story of Entertainment Weekly’s March 2016 edition, Sam and Caitriona directly denied the dating rumors, and admitted it was getting exhausting.
“Honestly I’m tired of that conversation,” Caitriona said. “This is fantasy. This is our job. We are very different in our private life. We are best friends. From the moment we met, we got along. Sam is one of the most generous people you’ll ever meet. Such a great guy, no ego involved.”
Sam added that he feels bad that fans are disappointed knowing they aren’t together in real-life, but he emphasized that they’re best friends. “It saddens me a bit, but I guess that means we’ve done a good job,” he explained.
“I don’t know. It’s a strange one,” Sam continued. “I’m still coming to terms with what it’s like to have people follow your personal life as well as your public life. It gets amusing. But she’s just wonderful. We’re very good friends.”
Despite denying the rumors, there remains a small but passionate subset of fans who are convinced Sam and Caitriona have a romantic connection – or at least should. Sam expressed gratitude for Outlander’s devoted fans in an interview last year.
"I think we've all had our own experiences and certainly some have been quite unique," Sam told Insider about his experience with Outlander fans. "But the majority of our fans are awesome and we love interacting with them."
"If there are one or two that are slightly on the fringes of society, then so be it," he continued.
Moreover, Sam admitted neither he nor Caitriona were expecting the fans’ reaction to their onscreen romance. "I think both of us were unaware of having more celebrity status, or just interacting with fans, I think we were both very, very open," he shared. "I think we've probably become a little bit more protective now."
Caitriona Is Married, But Some Fans Think It’s All Fake
There’s another piece of evidence that Caitriona and Sam aren’t romantically involved – she’s married to someone else. The actress married Scottish band manager Tony McGill in 2019. The couple welcomed a son in 2021.
However, some fans have gone so far as to question the validity of her married. Caitriona previously admitted the church where she got married received phone calls asking if her wedding was real.
Moreover, in a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, the actress admitted that some fans questioned if her husband is really the father of her son, as the bedsheets in a photo of her infant appeared similar to ones seen on Sam’s social media.
Although Sam has yet to walk down the aisle, he’s been romantically linked to a number of woman over the years. Most recently, it was rumored that he was dating Australian model Monkia Clarke after they were spotted getting close in New York in early 2022.
While some Outlander fans may be holding out hope that there’s something romantic between Sam and Caitriona, all the evidence is to the contrary, including the actors’ own words.
