In Outlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) becomes a feminist ally in his relationship with his wife Claire Fraser (Catriona Balfe). He supports her decisions, beliefs and ambitions, and has learnt to never underestimate her knowledge. Considering the couple met in 18th century rural Scotland, it’s pretty cool to see Jamie continuing to defy the staggering sexism of the time.

So fans will be pleased to know that Heughan and Balfe are just as strong allies to each other in real life. 

Writing a message to Balfe on her birthday (4 October), Jamie described his colleague as “remarkable, generous, talented, gracious, elegant and big hearted.”

He wrote: “Happy Birthday @caitrionabalfe !!! (…This is the only non inappropriate picture I could find!) Wishing this remarkable, generous, talented, gracious, elegant, big hearted, goof, the biggest birthday wishes! This is only the start of your success… Love ya wife! x”

She replied to the comment, writing: “Awwwww right back at you darling! I’ll hold the fort down on 40 till you get here in a few months!”

The previous day, Balfe shared her own message for Heughan and Sophie Skelton (who plays their on-screen daughter Brianna), alongside a behind-the-scenes Outlander photo.

Balfe captioned it: “The love is strong !!! (Or at least it is with @samheughan and his phone!) Couldn’t ask for a better daughter or hubby to play make believe with…. Love you guys .”

The photograph was taken while the cast filmed season five of Outlander, which is expected to his Amazon in 2020. 

Teasing fans about what to expect from the new season, Heughan said in a recent Facebook interview: “Well, my favourite scene to film this season, I can’t tell you because It’s such a spoiler, but, someone comes back. Shall I give you that? Someone comes back.”

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, Balfe addressed the family’s status in season five, and hinted that they could be staying in the past because they’re “settled.” 

“The season is really, really good,” she began. “Last season was really setting up the fact that the Frasers were in Fraser’s Ridge and that they were starting to settle.”

“This year is really about this family coming to terms with a lot of consequences of things that happened last season,” she continued. “But there’s a settled nature to it and I think it’s a really strong, strong season.”

Starz has confirmed that the “droughtlander” will end on 16 February 2020, when the new season airs in the US. But we’ll have to wait for a UK release date.

Until then, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more sneak peeks from the cast.

Images: Getty, Starz