DRIVING FORCE How the actress Caitriona Balfe is steering her career into Hollywood pole position
Caitriona Balfe accelerates her route to success in a high-speed Hollywood blockbuster
Perched on a sofa at Quo Vadis in Soho, wearing an elegant cream ensemble, despite having arrived straight from the airport, Caitriona Balfe is expounding the benefits of growing up without a television. It seems ironic, considering the Irish actress has been nominated for a remarkable four Golden Globe awards in a row as Claire Fraser, the timetravelling heroine of the wildly popular drama series Outlander. ‘After my six-year-old brother smashed part of our TV, my dad was so cross he decided that was it,’ she says. ‘As a result, I had to use my imagination to play outside and I became a voracious reader. I think it’s probably the best thing he ever did for us.’
Growing up in County Monaghan, Balfe was involved with theatre from a young age, and studied drama at the Dublin Institute of Technology. But after being spotted by a model scout, she dropped out of the course and ended up forging a lucrative career that saw her work with luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Chanel. Then, just before her 30th birthday, she decided to follow her dream of becoming an actress and moved to Los Angeles. ‘It’s a difficult transition for most people because the modelling world is such a bubble,’ she says, ‘so I was very lucky that I had this passion and was ready to pursue it.’ After enrolling in acting classes, she gradually started to secure roles in films including Super 8, Now You See Me and Money Monster, directed by Jodie Foster. ‘It had such an incredible cast,’ Balfe says. ‘It was one of those, “What am I doing here?” moments.’
This month, Balfe continues her ascent as a Hollywood leading lady, starring opposite Matt Damon and Christian Bale in 20th Century Fox’s Le Mans ’66. The film is based on the true story of the battle between the manufacturers Ford and Ferrari to win the prestigious sports-car race. Balfe plays Mollie, the wife of the racing driver and engineer Ken Miles. ‘I was really drawn to her – she was willing to support Ken even though she had to accept that every time he went onto the track, he might never come back,’ she says. ‘When you compare her to Claire, they both have this incredible inner strength – it just manifests itself in very different ways.’
‘Le Mans ’66’ is in cinemas from 15 November.