Jamie Roy landed the role of Brian Fraser in Blood of My Blood just before his 30th birthday after multiple Outlander auditions and setbacks.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Credit- Starz)
It’s August, and Jamie Roy has just revealed that he got a pretty sweet birthday present when he landed the role of Brian Fraser in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. The star recalled in an interview with Glamour,
When I got the role…I found out in April 2023, which was five days before my 30th birthday. So, a nice birthday present.
Since then, the guy has been nothing but busy filming the prequel’s second season, diving into the story of Jamie Fraser’s parents, set 20 years before the original Outlander series. Of course, Roy’s portrayal adds fresh depth to the beloved saga, exploring the rich backstory fans have been eager to see. The Outlander universe is just getting started.
Why Did Jamie Roy Not Cast In Outlander Despite Auditioning?
Turns out, Jamie Roy’s path to Outlander wasn’t exactly straightforward. Despite auditioning multiple times for roles on the flagship series, he actually never landed a part until fate stepped in with Blood of My Blood.
Roy shared with Glamour,
This was my third audition for the team. My first audition was for a role called Militia Man number one… I was actually pinned for that role, and then I later found out they dropped the role but would keep me in mind.
He further explained how the casting team saw something special in him but decided to save him for the prequel series instead. He added,
Karen Bailey… was like, ‘Hey, this guy looks a lot like Sam. Should we keep him for Blood of My Blood later on?’
Of course, Roy was initially disappointed when the Militia Man role fell through, but he did learn to trust the process. He explained during the interview,
It just shows you that you never know what’s happening behind closed doors and what fate has in store for you. It all worked out as it was meant to, I suppose.
And faith definitely paid off with Roy now playing Brian Fraser, the father of Sam Heughan’s iconic character Jamie Fraser. Speaking of Heughan, Roy apparently had a chance to meet and chat with his on-screen son, which turned into multiple whiskeys and some bonding time.
Roy explained, noting that showrunner Matthew B. Roberts wanted Brian to be his own man, not a carbon copy of Jamie. He added (via Entertainment Weekly)
We really wanted Brian to be his own man, which was great because it freed me from any expectations or pressures. I could find Brian naturally.
Additionally, Roy admitted candidly that he didn’t really study Heughan’s performance, but he’s been told that their characters are quite similar- brave, romantic, and very handsome.
Well, they did prove that sometimes, the perfect roles come when you least expect it, as showrunner Maril Davis admitted that he and the crew of the show agreed that Roy was the best cast.
Jamie Roy Has Already Made His Disney Debut
Before making waves on Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Jamie Roy had already dipped his toes into the world of Disney, and not just on screen. Turns out, Roy spent three years working onstage at Disney World, performing in front of huge crowds and gaining valuable experience that shaped his acting journey. He joked,
You don’t say ‘play,’ but I was friends with Kristoff from Frozen for three years at Disney.
That massive stage with an audience of 1,000 people per show pushed him far out of his comfort zone, but it was exactly where he wanted to be.
Though Roy credits that time as some of his best training, combining the hustle of live performance with the challenge of connecting with large audiences, he moved to LA in 2019, just before the pandemic paused everything. Once things started opening up in 2020, he jumped into film projects, building his credits and growing his career steadily.
And if you’re wondering about his favorite Disney movie? It’s Hercules, a childhood obsession that inspired his love for strength and fitness. Roy’s Disney roots run deep, and it’s clear they played a big part in shaping the actor he is today.
Curious to see Jamie Roy bring Brian Fraser to life? Dive into Outlander: Blood of My Blood and tell us what you think.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood is currently streaming on Starz.
