Exclusive - Jeremy Irvine on Outlander Prequel, Silent Hill & Reinventing Himself

Creative Direction & Grooming - Michael Gray

Special thanks to: Prosper PR

Few actors can claim a career that begins with Steven Spielberg and, more than a decade on, still feels like it is only just getting started. Jeremy Irvine, who first captivated global audiences as Albert Narracott in War Horse, has long been drawn to roles that demand both vulnerability and strength. He has played tortured men in impossible circumstances — a prisoner of war in The Railway Man, the young Sam Carmichael in the all-singing Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again — but this summer, Irvine steps into two universes that couldn’t be more different, each with legions of devoted fans and the kind of storytelling weight that defines an era of television and film.

First comes Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the hotly anticipated prequel to one of the most passionate and enduring franchises of modern television. The new Starz series will turn its focus on the untold love stories of the parents of Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp, beloved characters immortalised by Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe. Irvine plays Henry Beauchamp, Claire’s father, a man shaped by the trauma of World War I and the tenderness of new love. Alongside Hermione Corfield as Julia Moriston, Irvine brings to life a romance set against the shadows of war — one that promises to add fresh emotional depth to the Outlander mythology while standing proudly on its own. For fans of the franchise, it is the kind of expansion they have been waiting for: rich in romance, family drama, and the lingering question of how personal histories shape destiny.

If that wasn’t enough, Irvine will also lead one of the year’s most talked-about horror films: Return to Silent Hill. Based on the cult video game Silent Hill 2, the film sees him step into the role of James Sunderland, a man haunted by grief who returns to the sinister town of Silent Hill in search of his lost love. And then, as if to underline his versatility, the actor has a slate of projects on the horizon that span every conceivable genre: Leopardi & Co, a romantic comedy alongside Whoopi Goldberg; Turbulence, an action thriller with Olga Kurylenko and Kelsey Grammer; and Arsenic Lane, a chilling true-crime drama based on one of history’s most prolific murder rings.

From Spielberg’s war-torn fields to the fantastical realms of Outlander and the dark corridors of Silent Hill, Jeremy Irvine has built a career defined by risk, range and reinvention. This summer marks not just another chapter, but a defining one — a moment that cements his status as one of Britain’s most compelling leading men.

Jeremy, congratulations on joining the Outlander universe — one of television’s most passionate fandoms. How did it feel stepping into such a beloved world?

I didn’t really understand how large the fan base was until we started doing press tours around the States. It’s amazing. So much of my career I’ve spent working on projects just hoping that someone watches it to the end, so to have an existing passionate audience is a privilege. I was nervous the Outlander fans weren’t going to welcome us in, as we have to earn that, but the response has been incredible.

You’re playing Henry Beauchamp, Claire’s father. What can you tell us about him, and how does his story fit into the wider tapestry of Blood of My Blood?

Henry on the surface is this very noble, loving, heroic character. We meet him during the First World War and see his bravery and selflessness, however, as the series goes on, we discover how damaged he is mentally. He suffers from PTSD which starts making this apparently perfect relationship with Julia very difficult. For all his faults though, I think you can see where some of Claire’s better traits come from.

The series is set against the backdrop of WW1. How did you approach Henry’s wartime experiences, and what kind of preparation did the role require?

I’m quite lucky in that sense because I’ve done a few First World War movies, so I was already quite read up on the time period. That meant I could actually just focus on who Henry is as a person - although we don’t get all the scripts at the start, just two or three at a time, so I’ve been learning about that and figuring out who he is as we’ve gone on.

Outlander has always balanced fantasy with sweeping romance. How does this prequel lean into those elements, and what excited you about that?

Haha yes, in some ways I think Hermione (Julia) and I pulled the short straw on that one. We're the only ones who have to time travel and talk about the magic of it all. It’s a hard thing to figure out how to play that stuff, you want to make sure it’s grounded and real while talking about things that are very much in the fantasy realm. It’s been a fun challenge though.

Did you feel the weight of expectation from such a loyal fan base?

Only now am I feeling that I was in ignorant bliss the first season. Now we’re halfway through season 2 and I have to stop myself thinking about it, so I don’t stress about it.

From War Horse to The Railway Man and now Outlander, you’ve portrayed characters deeply marked by war. What draws you to these roles, and how do you find the emotional truth in them?

I think it’s just more interesting for an actor to play damaged characters or characters in extreme situations - it’s fun! Not for the characters but it is for me! Gives you lots to get your teeth into.

Outlander is known for its immersive world-building. What was it like on set — the costumes, the locations, the atmosphere? Did it help transport you into Henry’s mindset?

I don’t think I’ve had a single shot in front of a green screen on this. Everything you see on camera pretty much is there for real. We have amazing sets, even the food you see on the tables is real. Makes your job a lot easier when you’re not in a green or blue screen stage with the director telling you what you’re meant to be seeing.

If you could tease one moment from the new series that audiences will love, without spoilers, what would it be?

I can’t say who’s involved but there is a pretty epic battle sequence coming up. Watching that being filmed with 300 extras, explosions and cannons going off everywhere was pretty cool.

You’re also leading Return to Silent Hill. It’s a very different world — psychological horror rather than romantic fantasy. How did that shift in tone challenge you as an actor?

I filmed that before Blood of My Blood, and it was quite a challenging shoot as I was in every single scene in that movie and we filmed in Germany and Serbia for 5 months. I didn’t necessarily approach it any differently, but it’s been a nice change filming in Glasgow where I can get back and see my family at weekends and get to share the lead roles with three other actors. The work like balance of BOB is pretty sweet and I’m certainly appreciating that!

James Sunderland is an iconic character for fans of the video game. Did you feel a similar responsibility as you did with Outlander in embodying someone so beloved?

Well, I wasn’t massively aware of Outlander before I started the job - I’d seen posters but that was about it. With Silent Hill I had played the game obsessively as a teenager so it was a bit different. I remember when they offered me the role thinking 14-year-old Jeremy would think this was so cool. So, I took the job!

Between Henry in Outlander and James in Silent Hill, you’re playing men haunted by memory and love in different ways. Do you see parallels between them?

I think they are both haunted by their past but totally they’re very different projects, so I haven’t had to feel like I’m repeating anything. Now that you mention it, I do seem to attract these damaged characters, I need to go and do another Mamma Mia to get a bit of lightness back!

Looking back, War Horse was your breakout — Spielberg’s epic WW1 drama. How do you think that experience shaped your career and the kinds of projects you’re drawn to?

It gave me a career, it’s that simple. Some people I know who are better actors than me haven’t had that lucky break. That movie lead into another and so on… It was a life changing experience I’ll be forever grateful for.

You’ve worked across genres — romance, war epics, musicals, thrillers, horror. Is there one role or genre you still feel hungry to take on?

I’m really enjoying the romance element of Blood of My Blood. So maybe some more of that but a bit lighter? I did a rom-com last summer in Italy, and it was such fun. More of those please!

With projects like Leopardi & Co, Turbulence, and Arsenic Lane on the horizon, what can audiences expect from this next chapter of your career?

I’ve given up trying to guess how projects turn out. But with a bit of luck hopefully there’ll be some more fun ones coming out next year.

You’ve already built a remarkably varied career. When you think about the future, what does success look like for you now?

Just to keep working, that’s the dream. It’s a fickle industry and your luck can change very quickly. I’ve got away with it so far, I just hope it keeps going.

Finally, what do you hope audiences take away from Outlander: Blood of My Blood — and from Henry Beauchamp in particular?

I think it’s a great bit of escapism and that’s what I look for when I want to relax in the evening. It’s an uncynical, romantic, sweeping story that you can get lost in. Every time I see the news right now, I think that’s probably the sort of thing we could do with.

See Jeremy Irvine in Outlander: Blood of my Blood now.

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Jeremy Irvine: A New Chapter in Fantasy, Horror and Beyond