Young actor lands Outlander role

An East Wemyss actor has landed a plum role in hit show Outlander.

Ryan Ralph Gerrard, 21, will be watched by millions as he plays a Scottish Highlander in the third series, which starts on Amazon Prime on Sunday.

He has taken on the role of Giles Martin, a 16-year-old who finds himself thrust into the battle of Culloden.

The battle in 1746 resulted in the deaths of 2,000 Jacobites.

Ryan, who started acting as a teenager with Buckhaven Youth Theatre, said working with Sam Heughan and Grant 0’Rourke had been a real honour.

“As an actor you are constantly learning and reinventing yourself so being able to have first-hand experience alongside two wonderful leading actors was a blessing,” he said.

“I can safely say I walked away a more confident person and a stronger performer purely by being in their presence and watching their work.”

He added: “What’s beautiful about Outlander is the familylike atmosphere.

“Everyone from the cast to crew bonded very quickly and it was clear from the beginning that everyone was there to make a piece of art they were passionate about.”

Ryan advises all would-be actors to go for it and follow their dreams. He has just finished filming Catalyst, an independent film which also stars Sherlock and Bad Education actor Jack Bence.