Jamie Fraser
Outlander and Lord John series character
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser
First appearanceNovel:
Outlander (1991)
Television:
Outlander
"Sassenach" (2014)
Created byDiana Gabaldon
Portrayed bySam Heughan
In-universe information
Full nameJames Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser
Alias
  • Jamie MacTavish
  • The Dunbonnet
  • Red Jamie
  • Mac Dubh
  • Alexander Malcolm
  • Jamie Roy
  • Etienne Alexandre
NicknameJamie
Spouse
Children
RelativesJanet "Jenny" Fraser Murray (sister)
ReligionRoman Catholicism
NationalityScottish

James "Jamie" Fraser is a fictional character in the Outlander series of multi-genre novels by American author Diana Gabaldon, and its television adaptation. In the series, married World War II nurse Claire Randall is visiting Scotland when she is transported through time from 1945 back to 1743. There she finds adventure, war and romance with the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, a member of Gabaldon's fictionalized Clan Fraser of Lovat. Jamie also appears in two novels in the Lord John series of historical mysteries, and in the 2013 novella Virgins.

Jamie is portrayed by Sam Heughan in the Starz television series Outlander.

Concept and creation

Gabaldon took the name "Jamie" from the Doctor Who character Jamie McCrimmon, portrayed in the television series by Frazer Hines.[1][2][3] Gabaldon had seen the Doctor Who serial The War Games, which inspired her to set her novel in Scotland.[1][2][3] Gabaldon developed Jamie from an account in the Eric Linklater book Prince in the Heather, in which a single Jacobite named Fraser survives the mass execution of his fellows.[1][4] Jamie's looks and character are based on Gabaldon's husband, Doug Watkins, as the author has herself confirmed on her Twitter account.[5]

Hines guest starred in the May 2015 episode "Wentworth Prison" of Outlander, the television series adaptation of Gabaldon's novels.[6]

Character

When married World War II nurse Claire Randall is transported through time from 1945 back to 1743, she meets dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser.[7][8]

Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "The stories the show told during the second half of the first season deepened [Claire and Jamie's] bond and their need for each other. Jamie in particular was made to confront his personal and cultural attitudes about gender roles, understand how they impact Claire, and recognize the value to him of having a wife that was his equal in every way."[9]

Gabaldon describes Jamie as handsome and unusually tall, with distinctive red hair, deep blue eyes, and fair skin. The character uses many aliases throughout the series, including Jamie MacTavish, The Dunbonnet, Red Jamie/Seumas Ruadh, Mac Dubh, Alex MacKenzie, and Alexander Malcolm.[10]

Appearances

Jamie is a main character of Gabaldon's Outlander series. He also appears in two novels in the Lord John series of historical mysteries,[11][12] and in the 2013 novella Virgins.[13][14][15]

Outlander novels

Lord John novels

Television series

Jamie is portrayed by Sam Heughan in the Starz television series Outlander.[16]

Awards and nominations

Heughan was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television in 2015,[17][18] and Best Actor on Television in 2016.[19] Heughan was also nominated for a People's Choice Award for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor in 2016 and 2017,[20][21] a 2016 BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in Television,[22] and a 2016 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c Deluca, Ashleigh N. (10 August 2014). "Fictional Outlander Series Has Real Links to Scotland's Newly Unearthed Neolithic Ruins". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b Debnath, Neela (23 December 2016). "Outlander: Meet the Doctor Who star Frazer Hines who inspired Jamie Fraser". Express. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b Ross, Robyn (19 August 2014). "Exclusive: Doctor Who Alum to Guest-Star on Outlander". TV Guide. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  4. ^ "How historically accurate is Outlander?". The History Press. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via thehistorypress.co.uk.
  5. ^ Twitter https://twitter.com/writer_dg/status/1257266998628634630. Retrieved 11 September 2022. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Leeds, Sarene (12 May 2015). "Watch Claire Receive Jamie's Personal Effects in Exclusive Clip From This Saturday's Outlander". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  7. ^ Reese, Jennifer (27 November 2007). "Book Review: Lord John and the Hand of Devils (2007)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  8. ^ Ng, Philiana (8 May 2014). "Starz's Outlander Gets First Poster, Premiere Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  9. ^ Jensen, Jeff (31 May 2015). "How the Outlander finale handled its disturbing rape scene". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  10. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (9 October 2017). "Outlander: Jamie Fraser's Many Aliases From The Dunbonnet to Mac Dubh, Explained". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Official site: Chronology of the Outlander Series". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Scottish Prisoner: A Lord John Novel". Publishers Weekly. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Official site: Virgins (Dangerous Women)". DianaGabaldon.com. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com". Tor.com. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Dangerous Women by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois". Publishers Weekly. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  16. ^ Patten, Dominic (9 July 2013). "Update: Starz's Outlander Officially Names Sam Heughan As Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  17. ^ Kelley, Seth (3 March 2015). "Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  18. ^ "The 41st Annual Saturn Awards Winners 2015". Saturn Awards. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  19. ^ Bryant, Jacob (24 February 2016). "Star Wars, Mad Max, Walking Dead Lead Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  20. ^ "2016 People's Choice Awards: Nominees & Winners". People's Choice. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  21. ^ Petit, Stephanie (16 November 2016). "People's Choice Awards Nominations Are Here: Find Out How to Vote for Your Favorites". People. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  22. ^ "British Academy Scotland Awards: Nominees in 2016". BAFTA Scotland. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Critics' Choice Awards 2016 winners list: La La Land, People v. O.J dominate". Entertainment Weekly. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
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