Richard Rankin Talks Emotional Final Day of Filming ‘Outlander’

For nearly 10 years, Richard Rankin has performed Roger Wakefield on Outlander, the place he’s been time-traveling backwards and forwards 200 years. So technically, he’s really labored on Outlander for 210 years. Outlander math. Rankin sat down solely with SheKnows to talk about his time on the long-running Starz present, and discuss his new present, Rebus, the place he performs Detective John Rebus, a personality that’s the precise reverse of Roger, in each single method. Rankin shares what it was like being a lead in his personal present, and his bittersweet and emotional final day filming with co-stars Caitríona Balfe, Sam Heughan, and Sophie Skelton.

SheKnows: Richard, that is such an amazing automobile for you. It’s gritty, suspenseful. And I really like that your character likes to punch first and assume final. It’s type of wonderful.

Richard Rankin: Yeah! What number of episodes have you ever watched?

SK: I watched 4 of them.

RR: Effectively executed, attempting to get again on my good facet, Reshma.

SK:  I imply, it’s a marketing campaign. I’ll be operating it for the subsequent few years.

RR:  You’re doing very well. You’re incomes factors. However sure, he does wish to punch now and ask later. I believe it’s simply one thing that’s in him. He has a really fast temperament. And I believe that’s for a large number of causes. He simply has a kind of a fireplace inside him. He’s an ex-military man. It’s type of inherent in him, his reactions nearly unconscious. And we study this in a short time about him, which I’m very grateful for, as a result of it actually helped me as an actor to know that that’s what he was able to, and simply that that might simply be him at any second.

SK: The opening scene the place he’s about to kill that man. It established him so effectively. So, you’ve been doing Outlander for like 10 years now, what drew you to this explicit character and the way is he totally different from Roger?

RR: Might he be any extra totally different from Roger?! It’s a variety of issues, actually, once I obtained concerned with this present, I met with Niall MacCormick, the director, and Gregory Burke, they usually put ahead an concept of the present, which I discovered to be fairly rapidly irresistible. Niall had a tremendous temper board and examples of how he needed it to be shot by way of the aesthetic, and the cinematography and the tone and the grittiness. And I keep in mind particularly saying to him, if that is how we get to shoot it, then I’m in. I’d already learn the script at this level. After I learn these first 10-15, pages, I assumed, wow, we’re actually going for a distinct angle right here. We’re going for one thing very recent, very distinctive, very authentic. And it is a character that we’re taking which may be very well-known, very effectively beloved in Scotland. Effectively, really, not Scotland, type of worldwide. Ian Rankin’s novels are, you recognize, good. Such an enormous following and an enormous fan base.

SK: Have you ever been requested in the event you’re associated to Ian and in the event you’re a “nepo child?” I do know you’re not.

RR: [laughing] No, we’re not. We used to joke that we had been uncle and nephew. Earlier than that, Ian Rankin really stated to me… I type of really feel prefer it was on Twitter, however perhaps it was in particular person. He stated, “I’m going to jot down one thing for you sooner or later, I’m going to place you in one thing. And I don’t know what that’s, nevertheless it’s going to be quickly.” And it occurred. Every part type of fell into place in a method. I believe with out all of those parts, I’m unsure that I’d have executed it. I didn’t actually wish to be doing procedural crime, or enjoying a detective or a police officer. Once more, not that there’s something improper with it, and there’s an enormous urge for food for that type of tv. It’s simply, I didn’t actually see that for me, nevertheless it’s Rebus, the director’s unbelievable. It’s coming from good supply materials, and we’ve obtained an extremely proficient author adapting it. And I assumed, “Effectively, okay, we are able to actually reimagine this world in a really new, very thrilling method.”

SK: It’s so totally different from what you’ve been doing. I believe it takes you a little bit out of your consolation zone.

RR: Completely, it takes me out of my consolation zone! It required a variety of me. It required a lot of me to take this character and commit. Each ounce of me over the interval of taking pictures into the prep as much as that time.

SK: On that notice, whenever you’re on one present for 10 years, it’s rather a lot. You’re working with the identical group of actors. On Rebus, clearly you’re primary on the decision sheet, you’re setting the tone on set. What did you study from, working with Caitriona and Sam on Outlander, that you’ve got taken and delivered to different units that you just’re on?

RR: I believe that’s simply that consciousness of what, for lack of a greater phrase, the load of being primary. You’ve gotten a head of division for each division, proper, for lighting, for costume, for make-up, to your digicam group, for grips, your electricians, all the remainder. I suppose you could possibly say that whoever’s primary on the decision sheet is type of the top of the top of division for the actors, in a type of an unofficial method, they do set the tone. You do look to them, and also you do, type of, you are taking him, and also you take a look at what they’re doing, how they’re going about their day, how they’re influencing, you recognize, the remainder of the solid members, and also you see the affect that that has, whether or not or not – And this isn’t in reference to Caitríona. That is simply typically talking, you, you do see the affect that they’ve, good or unhealthy down the road precisely. It states what is suitable and what’s not on set.

SK: Something particular you discovered from the Outlander gang and are taking with you.

RR: Oh yeah! I imply simply the tone that Caitríona and Sam, I suppose it was a type of a type of a “co professional” with them. They only set a really relaxed, very welcoming ambiance. Particularly for people who find themselves visiting or visitor actors or who’re approaching for an episode, it’s essential. Lots of people are going to be coming in, they could be fairly anxious, particularly to such an enormous present, considering there’s expectations. They’re going to bear in mind that a variety of us solid members have, you recognize, been collectively for a really lengthy time period, and there could be, a little bit of unease or apprehension, I believe serving to individuals come on to set.

I don’t assume there’s ever a purpose why you shouldn’t have a superb day on set. I don’t assume anyone must be intimidated. I don’t assume anyone must be made to really feel in any method type of scared or unwelcome, or like they will’t be free to take pleasure in their time there and do their job. I don’t assume that ought to ever be the case. I believe individuals ought to all the time have the chance to go and have enjoyable on set, as a result of that’s why actors finally do what they do is to go and luxuriate in that course of. And I believe the house round them must be as a lot as doable, we should always curate an area round them during which to have the ability to try this.

SK: What’s one factor that was enjoyable about doing a brand new present, and one factor that was a little bit difficult?

RR: I imply, it’s simply enjoyable to do a brand new present. It was enjoyable to have the chance to have the ability to apply all of my type of craft to, all that it required of me was to come back and do my job to its fullest potential. And I really feel like I had that chance in order that was unbelievable. Problem? It was very tiring, and I used to be in just about all day, each day, and the content material was demanding. So, I needed to work Saturdays and Sundays each week. We had been rehearsing out of hours with different actors that we needed to type of finesse issues with. None of it is a criticism, by the best way, it was simply the method. It was in all probability probably the most difficult side of it, and attempting to do something out with of labor was tough, like attending to the gymnasium or going for a run….

SK: I really feel like punching individuals on digicam is an effective exercise. Don’t underestimate that.

RR:  Oh, I don’t know that I ought to advocate violence.

SK:  Fake violence! So, you guys wrapped Outlander final week. What was that like for you, and what are you trying ahead to subsequent? What’s the subsequent style you’re going to be in?

RR: I don’t know. I don’t know!

SK: I believe comedy. I’m simply placing it on the market.

RR: Yeah, I don’t assume comedy is my forte actually.

SK: You’re humorous whenever you don’t imply to be.

RR: I believe that’s the issue, if that’s really true, then that’s an issue, as a result of then I would like to have the ability to do it once I’m requested, I believe!

SK: You are able to do each. I’m not saying this simply to get again in your good graces.

RR:  I’d give it a go.

SK: I believe it is best to. So, what was the what was the final day like? The second final day, like on set?

RR: It was bizarre. It was bizarre as a result of we’d already wrapped twice. I wrapped on principal unit, after which I wrapped on second unit, after which we wrapped on reshoots and pickups final week. So, it was like, nearly like, being in some type of purgatory whenever you’re similar to wrapping on the identical present. It’s like God, and it was like, I don’t know, as a result of whenever you wrap on one thing, there’s all the time, you recognize, as a spherical of applause, and everybody’s actually grateful for one another, and it’s quite a bit hugging and stuff occurring, and then you definately type of do it. However after we wrapped on Friday, I wrapped with Caitríona and Sam, and it was, I believe we type of stepped again from it, as a result of we’d executed the ceremonious elements. So, it was like, “Oh, okay, thanks, thanks, guys. I suppose I’ll simply go then.” And then you definately go and also you get your stuff out of your trailer and, like, that is simply, it’s simply the character of it. Yeah, after which I left.

SK: You didn’t exit and rejoice?

RR: It didn’t hit me till afterward, oh no we’ve spent a variety of nice time collectively the final couple of weeks for certain, we’ve celebrated. Simply was saying the way it was in that second. Yeah, we had a good time from New York and coming again and heading out for dinners, drinks and ensuring that we correctly wrapped the present. However there was one level that night of the day that I wrapped the place I simply thought to myself, “I’ll by no means play Roger once more.” And that was a very profound second. I felt… bizarrely emotional.

SK: Did you cry? As a result of I really feel like it will be onerous to not.

RR: Yeah, I did really fairly, fairly type of like (laughing) spontaneously, out of nowhere. I used to be very teary. I couldn’t even let you know why. I simply thought to myself, I’ll by no means play this character once more. And it was type of like somebody had died a little bit bit.

SK: Aw…. So we’re out of time.

RR: Oh, you’re simply going to depart me like that? Thanks, Reshma!

SK: Sure, I’m going to only make you cry and head out. However I believe Outlander followers and your whole followers basically, are going to like this new piece. It’s so totally different than what you will have performed, and also you do such an amazing job. Thanks a lot, Richard.

Rebus is streaming now on Viaplay within the US. Outlander season 7, half two begins on November 22^nd on Starz. Watch Rankin and co-stars John Bell, Skelton, Balfe and Heughan chat about season 7 on the Paley Middle occasion.

This interview has been edited and condensed for size and readability.

Earlier than you go, take a look at the all-time greatest ‘Outlander’ episodes you want to watch.