Outlander gets three Golden Globe nominations

THE first series of Outlander, the hit American fantasy series set and filmed and Scotland, is in the running for three Golden Globes - just weeks after being snubbed in the Scottish Baftas.

Caitriona Balfe has been nominated for the Golden Globes but Sam Heughan, her Scottish co-star of Outlander, missed out. Picture: Starz

The biggest ever film or television production to be made in Scotland will be up against Game of Thrones in the best TV drama category when the awards are held next month.

Caitriona Balfe, the former Irish model who plays heroine Claire Randall in Outlander, is in the running for best actress in a TV drama, up against House of Cards star Robin Wright.

The historical drama follows the adventures of a married nurse Claire Randall after she is propelled back through time from the aftermath of the Second World War to the time of the Jacobite rebellion.

English actor Tobias Menzies, who plays Ms Balfe’s on-screen 20th century husband, as well as Outlander’s main 18th century villain, “Black Jack” Randall, is in the running for a best supporting actor award. But Scottish star Sam Heughan, who plays Jacobite warrior Jamie Fraser, has missed out.

However Alan Cumming, the Perthshire-born actor who has won fame on Broadway and Hollywood, is in the running for a best TV actor honour for legal drama The Good Wife.

British interest in the Golden Globes is led by the BBC’s adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s 16th century novel Wolf Hall, which is up for best limited TV series and also garnered acting nominations for Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis. Rylance is also nominated for the film Bridge of Spies while Idris Elba has nominations for the TV series Luther and the film Beasts of No Nation.

Maggie Smith is up for a best actress film award for her role in The Lady in the Van, while Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet will go head-to-head in the best supporting actress category for the films Trumbo and Steve Jobs respectively.

Irish actress Saoirse Ronan is in the running for a best film actress honour for Carol, while Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne will face stiff competition from Michael Fassbender, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith and Bryan Cranston for a best film actor honour.

Ridley Scott is nominated for best motion picture director for his latest science fiction epic The Martian, but Danny Boyle, the director of Steve Jobs, missed out. Writing’s on the Wall, which Sam Smith wrote for the new James Bond film Spectre, is up for best song.

Outlander has been shot extensively on location around Scotland and at a converted warehouse in Cumbernauld. It is widely credited with boosting the value of productions shot in Scotland to a record £45 million.

However the show, which feature graphic scenes of sex, torture, rape and violence. has never been shown on mainstream UK TV. Although it went on air in the US in August 2014 fans have only been able to see it on Amazon’s streaming service since the spring of this year. It was eligible for the Scottish Baftas and was considered in several categories but failed to get a single nod.

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Outlander is a globally-renowned production, a major international ratings winner and the largest inward investment we’ve ever seen in Scotland’s creative industries.

“This unique, exciting and compelling drama is making an important contribution to the strengthening of our screen sector and our wider economy, as well as boosting visitor numbers to many of our most treasured historical sites.”

Tourism leaders have reported huge surges in visitor numbers at locations used for the show.

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said: “Outlander has already proved a huge hit with fans around the world, so receiving this kind of critical recognition is a great boost for the show and for Scotland – the land that inspired the series.”

A spokeswoman for arts agency Creative Scotland said: “It’s wonderful news that Outlander is nominated across three categories at the Golden Globes.

“The series showcases the on screen talents of many Scottish and UK actors, including Golden Globe nominees Caitriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies, as well as the work of the fantastic crew working behind the camera, and is a real opportunity to showcase Scotland’s beautiful landscapes and scenery.”