Claire Beauchamp (who adopts the surnames Randall, Fraser, and Grey at various times) is a fictional character in the ''Outlander'' series of multi-genre novels by American author Diana Gabaldon, and its

television adaptation An adaptation is a transfer of a work of art from one style, culture or medium to another. Some common examples are: * Film adaptation, a story from another work, adapted into a film (it may be a novel, non-fiction like journalism, autobiography, ...

. In the series, Claire is a married World War II nurse visiting Scotland who finds herself transported from 1945 back to 1743. There she finds adventure, war and romance with the dashing Highland warrior

Jamie Fraser Jamie Fraser (born November 17, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Islanders. Playing career Undrafted from the Ontario Hockey League, Fra ...

. Smart, stubborn and willful, Claire uses her wits, practical medical skills and knowledge of the future to survive in the 18th century. Claire is portrayed by Irish actress Caitríona Balfe in the

Starz Starz (stylized as STARZ since 2016; pronounced "stars") is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment, and is the flagship property of parent subsidiary Starz Inc. Programming on Starz consist ...

television series '' Outlander''. Balfe won a

Saturn Award The Saturn Awards are American awards presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, but have since grown to reward other films be ...

for Best Actress on Television in 2015 and 2016, and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress in 2016. She also received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Character

When visiting Scotland, married World War II nurse Claire Randall is transported through time from 1945 back to 1743. There she finds adventure, war and romance with the dashing Highland warrior

. In the following novels, after the

Jacobite Jacobite means follower of Jacob or James. Jacobite may refer to: Religion * Jacobites, followers of Saint Jacob Baradaeus (died 578). Churches in the Jacobite tradition and sometimes called Jacobite include: ** Syriac Orthodox Church, sometimes ...

defeat at the

Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...

, Claire travels back to her time where she spends 20 years with her former husband

Frank Randall The following is a partial list of characters from Diana Gabaldon's ''Outlander'' series as first introduced, beginning with the 1991 novel '' Outlander''. The story focuses on 20th century nurse Claire Randall, who time travels to 18th-century ...

, becoming a medical doctor and a surgeon, and raising her and Jamie's daughter Brianna. Finally, having discovered that Jamie survived the Battle of Culloden, she returns to 18th century Scotland and reunites with Jamie. The couple settles in North Carolina, and is soon joined by their daughter Brianna as well as many Scottish settlers. Gabaldon originally intended ''Outlander'' to be straight

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

, but after a few days of writing Claire she realized that the character did not behave like an 18th century woman. Gabaldon eventually leaned into the modern approach to Claire, which prompted the introduction of time travel. Claire is often described as stubborn and impatient, and she refuses to conform to the 18th century societal expectations of women. Practicing medicine and putting to use her 20th century medical knowledge leads to numerous accusations of witchcraft, including a witch trial.

''Outlander'' novels

* '' Outlander'' (1991) * '' Dragonfly in Amber'' (1992) * ''

Voyager Voyager may refer to: Computing and communications * LG Voyager, a mobile phone model manufactured by LG Electronics * NCR Voyager, a computer platform produced by NCR Corporation * Voyager (computer worm), a computer worm affecting Oracle ...

'' (1994) * '' Drums of Autumn'' (1997) * '' The Fiery Cross'' (2001) * '' A Breath of Snow and Ashes'' (2005) * '' An Echo in the Bone'' (2009) * ''

Written in My Own Heart's Blood ''Written in My Own Heart's Blood'' is the eighth book in the ''Outlander'' series of novels by Diana Gabaldon. Centered on time travelling 20th century doctor Claire Randall and her 18th century Scottish Highlander warrior husband Jamie Frase ...

'' (2014) * ''Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone'' (2021)

Television series

Claire is portrayed by Irish actress Caitríona Balfe in the

television series '' Outlander''.

Awards and nominations

Balfe won a

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Claire Characters in American novels of the 20th century Characters in American novels of the 21st century Female characters in television Fictional Christians Fictional female doctors Fictional nurses Fictional people from the 20th-century Fictional surgeons Literary characters introduced in 1991 Television characters introduced in 2014 Orphan characters in literature Outlander (franchise) Time travelers Atheism in television Christianity in television