One of the stars of Outlander has opened up about the eighth and final season of the epic Starz drama series, not long after a trailer dropped, leading to much speculation about a mystery voice.
In an exclusive interview with Reach Screen Time, Brianna MacKenzie actress Sophie Skelton shed light on season eight.
The 31-year-old actress from Woodford, Manchester, said of wrapping up the show: “It’s such a bittersweet moment.”
Skelton explained: “I think we all felt really strongly that it was coming to a point where we could all wrap this up beautifully, or we could drag it on and kind of take the mick.
“Actually, I was quite excited for season eight because I knew that we would go all out. I knew that everyone would tie it up with the closure and the magnitude that it deserved, and I think it really did that.”
She went on to say: “I think it was probably one of my favourite seasons to film because it felt like we were all closer knowing that it was the end, and I feel like people who don’t always have the patience on set had more [patience] on set.”
She praised the fans for “doing so much” for the cast and crew over the years by supporting their “other jobs”.
Teasing the final season, Skelton said: “I think we ended it on a high. Season eight was great to film.
“I think it’s a good season too. It’s one where I really felt like Brianna really is the character I’ve been wanting to play for a while.
“I think the one thing this show struggles with naturally is that there’s just so much content from Diana’s books to fit into one season.
“So often, things have to be chopped, but I’m really proud about the way the writers have written Brianna this season and I’m really proud of the woman she’s become.
“I really enjoyed playing that version of her. She’s grown up a lot, she’s really settled into herself and being a mum and family.”
Adding: “She’s just a really cool person now. She’s this little warrior now, and I love that.”
The star found filming on season eight a tough one and went through various stages of grief, alongside her onscreen mother, Claire Fraser, played by Caitríona Balfe.
Skelton is now busy working on new projects and recently appeared in the psychological thriller Row. The film focuses on the sole survivor of a doomed transatlantic voyage attempting to piece together the tragic events that resulted in her crewmates’ deaths and prove her innocence, despite suffering memory loss.
The actress will also be appearing in a country music movie that serves as a sequel to I Can Only Imagine, which she shot in Nashville, Tennessee. The star features alongside Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, and John Michael Finley. Skelton admitted that as a big country and western music fan it was a dream project.
She is now looking ahead to the future and fresh projects after devoting nearly a decade to Outlander.