The Ladies Of Outlander Are Stunning In Real Life

"Outlander" had all the makings of a hit show. Steamy romances, heart-dropping danger, and time jumps that require a suspension of disbelief, all set in the sweeping backdrop of the Scottish highlands, with main characters who had ridiculously steamy chemistry. The series, which featured Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser and Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, went on for eight seasons, and the actors have moved on since the finale in May. "Having been on a show for over a decade, my time was always so limited as to what I could do. And so now I'm like a child in a candy store. I'm just so grateful that I get to do different things. I'm really curious  about what else I can do," Balfe told Women's Wear Daily.

Seeing Balfe outside of her role as a World War II nurse who time-travels to the 1700s will always be astonishing, especially when she's decked out in modern clothes. It only goes to show just how much makeup and wardrobe can transform a person, as playing a character jumping from her 20s to 60s requires a lot of behind-the-scenes magic. Still, she and her fellow "Outlander" female co-stars always manage to look glamorous both on and off camera, and in real life, they're just as stunning as their on-screen counterparts.

"Outlander" wouldn't be complete without Caitriona Balfe, and her gorgeous, all-natural aesthetic was perfect for the period drama. However, her red carpet style for the premiere of "The Amateur" in March 2025 showed her creating the perfect '90s wine-red lip. The look was quite a departure from her usually makeup-free character, but one thing's for sure — Balfe hardly needs any foundation to even out her flawless, porcelain skin. Aside from the dramatic lip shade, the rest of Balfe's makeup was minimal, which highlighted the goth color so much more.

Lotte Verbeek was the perfect actor to play the mysterious Geillis Duncan, and she didn't have to change her look to play the witch in "Outlander." In fact, the advantages of having red hair got her the part. "It was really lovely, though, because one of the producers said, 'It's kind of exciting. You really want to find the right person for the role, and I knew it from the second I saw your photo,'" she told Vulture. A pic taken in September 2021 showed Verbeek with the same striking hair hue, looking ready for the red carpet.

Sophie Skelton was brought into "Outlander" in Season 2 as Claire and Jamie Fraser's daughter, which meant having to change her naturally brunette hair to red so that she resembled her on-screen dad. Unfortunately, dying her strands didn't pan out so well, and Skelton told Town & Country, "They had to bleach it, but then it got bad. It became like straw and then it just kind of fell out." Ultimately, the gorgeous red hair that fans saw was thanks to a wig, and her March "Outlander" premiere appearance shows that her hair has recovered from bleach damage since then.

Season 4 of "Outlander" introduced Jamie Fraser's aunt, Jocasta Cameron, played by Maria Doyle Kennedy. Fans saw Cameron as a woman in her mid-60s with gray hair and failing eyesight, but in reality, the actor was 54 when she was cast. During the "Outlander" Season 5 premiere in February 2020, Kennedy looked decades younger with her deep brown hair and vivid emerald green eyeshadow. The colorful geometric scarf added another modern touch, and the difference between her red carpet look and television portrayal is striking.

Many "Outlander" fans may recall Jamie Fraser's overprotective older sister, Jenny Murray, who was played by Laura Donnelly for the first three seasons. As a character in the 1700s, the actor was portrayed with a bare face and practical, swept-back hair, so she was unrecognizable during the ITV Showcase in April with her more contemporary look. Donnelly sported an adorable pixie with long bangs that showed off her edgier side that we think the feisty Murray would totally approve of. With her fluffy brows and peachy makeup, the Ireland native looked simply dreamy.

Marsali MacKimmie was the fresh-faced young woman played by Lauren Lyle, who was Jamie Fraser's stepdaughter. Of course, there was no makeup in the 1700s so Lyle had to shoot scenes with minimal coverage, but that's something she became comfortable with, as was apparent during the March premiere of "Outlander." With just a touch of eyeliner and beige lipstick, she looked like a slightly more glam version of her character. "Weirdly, as I've grown up, I've become really into not wearing any makeup all the time and being confident that my face is beautiful and that that's fine," Lyle shared with The Italian Rêve.

Laoghaire MacKenzie may have been a troublemaker in "Outlander," but you can't deny that she's a stunner. Her portrayer, Nell Hudson, credited her distinct features for landing the role, telling Hello!, "I have an old fashioned face and have a huge overbite and I think it makes me look like I'm from the past somehow." Although she's a natural beauty, Hudson declared, "It feels like an act of self love to really look after your own skin. I wear SPF Factor 50 every single day, treat myself to the odd facial, and I just love skin products."