But youll have to stay tuned for Season 8 for that!
I really appreciate how active your character was in finding her son.
What was it like to really let that mama bear come out?
Image via Starz
When we started the show, there was a lot I had to rein back in.
She was a little less mature, and a little less evolved.
She didnt know herself as well, and didnt quite know how to handle her emotions or her outlets.
Image via Starz
Actually, I thinkthe most authentic Brianna is where she is just raw and emotionally open.
Shes such an empathetic person and she is such a protective person.
One thing for her is that she felt like she never really had anybody to protect her.
I think that is when Brianna is in her element.
For Brianna, its a relief because her familys back together.
She realizes that thats all that matters to her right now and thats all she needs.
Image via Starz
It doesnt matter where it is or whats going on.
Everyone being able to be in her arms is a safety that shes never known.
Did anyone see this coming?
SKELTON: For sure.
Look, I would never say hot mess with any judgment.
One thing you might never do is judge your character.
Image via Starz
And I, as a person, am not a judgmental person.
But one thing you should never do is judge your character because then obviously you cant play it authentically.
She has nothing at this point and has nothing to lose.
That just puts you in a headspace that I would describe as a boiling pan.
Do you think she would have killed him if she had the chance?
Yeah, I think she would.
Image via Starz
Shes been through too much.
Shes not as hotheaded as she used to be.
I do think that she acts with a little bit more context and intelligence now.
I can kill people and get away with it.
But her son has been taken.
The one thing that is great about this season is that question of what lengths would you go to?
Claire Beauchamp Randall, a nurse in World War II, mysteriously goes back in time to Scotland in 1743. There, she meets a dashing Highland warrior and gets drawn into an epic rebellion.
What would you do?
That absolutely is where her muscle memory defaults to now.
Did it feel extra special to you that she was the one who actually got her family back together?
you might do it all and you dont have to rely on somebody.
SKELTON: I know.
Actually, shes freaking out.
She doesnt know what to do.
Sometimes its okay to be at rock bottom.
Its okay to cry.
Its okay to feel lost and not know what to do.
Usually you at least have somebody with you.
SKELTON: Yeah, it felt lonely.
It maybe, in a weird way, allowed her to connect with herself a bit more.
Shes a full-time working mom.
Shes got two kids.
Shes renovating a house.
Theres time travel, and all this stuff.
But yeah, for me, it was a weird season.
Thats why they wrote the broken finger into the season as well.It was a lot to deal with.
I was going through some stuff.
The Season 7 finale airs on Friday, January 17.
So then, youre even more alone than people realize because it doesnt look that way in the scene.
SKELTON: Totally, and I love that you said that.
They have to have breaks every X amount of time, but we fit a lot in a day.
We dont have time to just stop shooting.
Its too big of a show.
Theres no emotion coming back at you then.
Youve gotta imagine it.
Was there a conversation about how that whole reunion should play out?
Did you talk about or shoot any different versions of that moment?
SKELTON: Actually, I think the writers pretty much had that in mind, that Jemmy emerged first.
But us coming through the smoke was the hardest thing.
But in terms of the configuration of the order we all came through, that was actually pretty set.
That was our one goal.
That was a double tear-jerker moment.
SKELTON: Yeah, exactly.
For us, as well.
I think that was the last shot together, which is always quite nice.
And to Lallybroch, as well.
SKELTON: Yeah, it does.
She probably has some abandonment issues.
Shes very much been on her own.
She doesnt have siblings.
She doesnt have grandparents.
That is such a fresh feeling for her.
The concept of everyone being able to be together and the extended family is surreal to her.
Do you feel satisfied now with the closure of their story?
SKELTON: Yeah, Im super proud of them, as characters.
Weve been fed a lot with movies that this is what it should look like.
Whats great about Brianna and Roger, but its also their downfall, is that its real.
They dont communicate, which drives me crazy.
Theyve not handled things fantastically in the past, yet they still work through it.
Im really proud of the people they are now and the couple they are now.
That is all you’re free to really ask for.
Its come to a really cool pinnacle of their relationship, at this point.
SKELTON: Do they?
It seems like theyve made that decision.
SKELTON: I think one thing that Brianna will always bet on is herself.
She and Claire have always had a very mother-daughter, best friendy relationship thats switched around.
At times, Brianna has been the mother to Claire, and vice versa.
Its like, “You know what?
Weve tried to do the safest thing for them and go to the future, but everywheres fucked.
Were gonna stay here forever now, with mom and dad.”
Its all the same priority now.
So, I think thats what will change, just that anchoring down.
SKELTON: Its really hard when you get to this point of a show.
But I, personally, from my stuff, am so excited for people to see Season 8.
Like you said before, there is a change in Brianna.
Its family, and so you really feel it.
Theres just much more grit to Season 8, in my opinion, for Brianna at least.
I know that with Season 4 we were like, This is our favorite season.
I know Droughtlander is always long, and that must be so hard.
I wont say, I promise, but I think this one will be worth it.
And its the final one, so lets just hold onto it while we have it.
What couldnt you have imagined before youd actually done it and completed it?
SKELTON: Thats a good question.
I loved working with him.
We managed to do age 16 to age 32 or 35, whatever Brianna ends up as.
Im lucky that, for me at least, each season has been quite fresh.
Id seen the response to Season 1, and it was incredible.
That, to me, has been the most surprising and rewarding thing of all of it.
I’m really proud of Season 8.
It also feels pretty remarkable that theyve stayed as strong or even been stronger from season to season.
Fandom tends to wane a little bit, and it doesnt feel like it ever did for the show.
SKELTON: Yeah, it snowballed.
I was like, Oh, theres more of you.
Droughtlander was very long.
I thought youd all be dropping off, but its building.
Yeah, thats super rare.
Im really astounded and grateful.
One of the first things a lot of fans ask me is, What are you doing next?
Its nice that theyre not invested in just the character anymore.
Thats really something, and Im super touched by that.
SKELTON: Honestly, Im just quite excited to do something different.
Im quite excited to just be a bit of a chameleon and go completely into something else.
I quite like people not being able to identify what I look like as Sophie.
Shes laid to rest.
She may or may not be good, but shes done her story.
I think its really peaceful, actually, to leave her there.
The ‘Outlander’ prequel will premiere this summer.
Do you know what youre going to do next?
Do you want to take some time to figure out what you want to do next?
Are you looking for a comedy with some nice weather?
SKELTON: A comedy would be great.
And yes, when it comes to cold weather, Ive done my stint for now.
Filming somewhere with sunshine would be fantastic for a little while.
No more pneumonia from night shoots in the cold.
How do you feel about taking something like that on again?
SKELTON: I think series are in a very different place now than they were eight years ago.
It’s rare for something to go for as long as we did.
But for now, Im just excited to do something different.
What that looks like, I dont know.
If the right thing comes along, then the time on it doesnt matter.
There, she meets a dashing Highland warrior and gets drawn into an epic rebellion.
Check out the trailer for Season 7 Part 2:
Watch on Starz
