10 iconic female characters from historical dramas to celebrate Women’s History Month
By Mads Lennon
9. Claire Beauchamp from Outlander
Outlander wouldn’t be Outlander without Claire Beauchamp (Fraser) and Jamie Fraser. They’re the centerpiece of this historical drama based on the popular, best-selling book series of the same name written by Diana Gabaldon. It’s hard to believe how far Claire has come from her early days as a married WWII nurse on vacation with her husband to Scotland.
In the beginning, Claire was a fairly normal protagonist until she accidentally found herself transported from 1945 all the way back to the Scottish Highlands during 1743. Caitriona Balfe has stolen hearts since her first scene on the show and even won several awards throughout her years on the show, including multiple Saturn Awards and a People’s Choice Award. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award four years in a row, although unfortunately hasn’t won one just yet. Caitriona has broken our hearts and made us smile more times than I count.
Whether she’s having a steamy sex scene with her fated soulmate Jamie or trying to do what’s right for her daughter Briana, Claire’s strength is unyielding, and that’s what makes her such a compelling and one of the most iconic female characters. Even when the going gets tough (which it often does), Claire persists.