Book-based characters can be difficult for actors because they have to follow additional guidelines in order to capture on-screen what the readers expect. The Outlander show and the books have a lot of fans, so when approaching a character, the actors have to take into account different aspects.
Actress Sophie Skelton met the expectations that were placed on Brianna, but the road for her was not easy. After her audition, she had to wait a year to receive the call for acceptance. The actress was a bit down in the dumps during the wait, because she felt so attached to the character. But this determination helped her prepare very well and master Brianna's mannerisms.
Warm And Strong
Casting directors may find it difficult to find the perfect person to play a character because they have to comply with the characteristics outlined in the books. The actress Sophie Skelton didn't meet some of the physical requirements, she doesn't have red hair, she doesn't have blue eyes and she's not the height of Brianna, but many actors are not identical to their characters either, for example, Sam Heughan doesn't have the same hair color as Jamie in real life either.
The physical description of Brianna is not abundant among the population, and although a person with these characteristics was sought, the production preferred to focus on the best actress for the character: one who offered Bree's strength but with the warmth necessary to cross the screen. And in these aspects, Skelton nails it.
Without Elements Of Frank
Brianna adored Frank and he will always have a special place in her heart, for all the years they lived together and his dedication as a father, but Sophie Skelton focused on not having Frank's gestures on her.
Despite the beautiful relationship that father and daughter shared, the actress had to take into account that he was not her biological father. In the books, there is a lot of talk about the similarity between Brianna and Jamie, not only in their red hair but also in their behavior. In this way, Skelton knew how to offer all the love to Frank as his foster father, but knowing that there was another part of her missing.
Logic And Art
Brianna is a strong and independent woman, with special strength in both the 20th and 18th centuries. She studied engineering so she was ahead of her time, demonstrating skills in repairing and building objects that other characters do not have.
Sophie Skelton transfers the characteristics that her role needs, with an ability to solve situations in a logical way and also knowing how to keep calm during chaos. She can shoot and ride horses, which are very important to survive in the 18th century. On the other hand, she shows talent with painting, which helped her to go through difficult moments in her life.
The Need For Self-Discovery
One thing Sophie Skelton understands from the books is that Brianna needs to find herself when her life begins to change. Who is she without Frank? How to be Jamie's daughter? How to cope with her relationship with Claire? How to face life alone when her mother returns to the past?
This process is experienced by Brianna during the beginning of her relationship with Roger. It is obvious that she loves him, but she is going through a lot to commit to a long-term relationship. She is afraid and needs to get to know herself first, so she prefers to walk away. Despite this, it's always on screen the love she has for him and this internal debate she goes through.
Stubbornness And Big Personality
The Frasers are stubborn, Jamie and Jenny prove it, on the other hand, Claire has a strong and determined temperament. Brianna is the combination of both families, but with other aspects such as sweetness and logic.
These traits in Bree have made her deviate from her path at times and prolong situations, such as her relationship with Roger, where neither of them wanted to give in. The actress Sophie Skelton managed to make a pretty good representation of these mannerisms, to win the approval of the audience.
Like Father, Like Daughter
Brianna is very similar to Jamie in her manners, gestures, personality, and even the way she smiles when she sleeps. For this reason, the actress had to not only study her character from books but also analyze Jamie's role.
Brianna and Jamie are logical, they think before talking and acting, but when they are very angry, they can say the first thing that goes through their heads, without thinking if they are hurting someone else. Skelton took some elements worked on by Sam Heughan in past seasons and gave these to her own role, but she made sure it was genetic details that Bree could have without ever having seen her father.
Between The Books And The Show
Sophie Skelton studied her character in depth to offer what the readers expected. She read the books and became Brianna's number one fan, so she pushed herself harder to preserve the essential traits of the character.
Although in the series there are a few changes in the events and different processes of the roles, the actress found a middle point where she managed to be faithful to the character, both in the books and in the script, and for that, she took care and protected Brianna in every scene.
In The Skin Of The Character
Claire and Bree's relationship, while close, had its ups and downs. Skelton and Caitriona Balfe worked together on building the mother-daughter relationship because it was necessary to understand why Brianna was closer to Frank.
They also knew how to reflect the bad moments when Frank dies and Brianna finds out that Jamie is her real father. To do this, Sophie Skelton had to get inside the character's head to understand Bree's reactions and anger. In addition, the actress studied the performance of Caitriona Balfe to give Brianna the mannerisms that come from her mother's side.
Complicated Expressions
Playing a character can require a lot of research. In Outlander there are several details to take into account the behavior of the characters, such as the times they grew up in and the differences and similarities between the book and the show.
For seasons four and five, Sophie had to prepare for the rape scene and her character's reaction. The actress took into account the cases of victims by watching interviews, court proceedings, and cases where victims face their aggressors, so she could express what the character was going through.
The Female Force
Like her mother, Brianna is very strong and ahead of her time. Bree grew up as the daughter of a female surgeon in the '60s, which was not very normal during those years, so this influenced her way of being.
In addition, Bree has a passion for engineering that is present in the books and is reflected in the show, therefore, the character is not only the daughter or the wife, she also has her own opinions and convictions important to the development of the story.