With her starring role as Claire on the hit fantasy romance seriesOutlander, Irish actressCaitríona Balfehas become one of the biggest leading ladies in television. Despite her stardom though, Balfe has been careful with her roles, with limited acting credits to her name which, to be fair, doesn’t count some of her earliest short film roles norher blink-and-you-miss-it appearancein the hit fashion comedyThe Devil Wears Prada.
The approach has undeniably been one of quality over quantity though, with Balfe’s filmography including two Oscar-winning pictures, underrated animated gems, and supporting parts in major blockbusters alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names.These films and television series present as the best projects the actress has been involved with over her career thus far.
15’Crush' (2013)
Appeared as Andie
Swamped by formulaic storytelling and unimaginative twists,Crushis hardly the best picture of Balfe’s growing career. However, it isan interesting showcase of the actress’s talents in an against-type performance. The film predominantly follows Scott (Lucas Till), a talented footballer hoping to secure an athletic scholarship. His life takes a dark turn, however, when he learns of a violent secret admirer attacking the women he grows close to.
The film ratchets up the tension in the latter half, with Balfe’s Andie revealed as being the stalker and capturing Scott to keep him in her basement. It is a treat to see Balfe excel in a role so foreign to what audiences know her for today. If fans of the actress wanted to indulge in that alone, thenCrushis a worthwhile watch, but horror aficionados and general enjoyers of cinema are probably best advised to look elsewhere fora great abduction suspense flick.
14’The Christmas Letter' (2019)
Appeared as Ellie (voice)
A charming festive fable that, while aimed more towards younger audiences, still has its enchanting elements,The Christmas Letteris a largely delightful animated television short imbued by no small amount of Christmas cheer and an impressive collection of voice actors. It follows Henry (James Quinn Markey), an enthusiastic eight-year-old boy who yearns to spread the holiday joy to everyone in his neighborhood. When he is scorned by the lonely old Mr Broom (Fiona Shaw) he makes it his mission to ensure she can find joy during the festive season as well.
Its touching sentiment is well realized by its playful animation and its cast, which includesKate Winslet’s narration of the story and Caitriona Balfe’s work as Ellie, Henry’s loving mother.Sweet, sincere, and stacked with seasonal spirit,The Christmas Letterhas all themakings of a Christmas classicfor the younger members of the family to enjoy.
13’Angela’s Christmas Wish' (2020)
Appeared as Mother (voice)
Throughout her career, Caitríona Balfe has always offered her voice acting to underrated gems of animated cinema. One such example of that is her work on the festive Irish animated filmAngela’s Christmas Wish, a sequel to the Emmy-nominated animated shortAngela’s Christmaswhich follows a young girl’s hopes to reunite her family, especially her father working in Australia.
The quaint picture boasted a war-hearted charm which made it an adorable family Christmas picture that, at just 47 minutes long, was easy for young viewers to embrace. Balfe’s role was a minor one as the mother of one of the protagonist’s friends, but she was able to use her natural Irish accent.
Angela’s Christmas Wish
12’Now You See Me' (2013)
Appeared as Jasmine Trassler
A magicianheist movie with a modern spinon the steal from the rich and give to the poor narrative,Now You See Mebecame a fan favorite film of 2013. It follows the performative magician troupe ‘The Four Horseman’ and the FBI and Interpol agents trying to uncover how they are able to steal money from major banks to give to the audience as part of the show.
Now You See Me
11’The Beauty Inside' (2012)
Appeared as Alex #34
A fascinating experiment that marries a high-concept story with the audience engagement of social media,The Beauty Insideis an internet series that won a Daytime Emmy Award for New Original Approach to an Original Daytime Program of Series. The story follows Alex (whose internal monologue is narrated byTopher Grace), a person who wakes up every morning in a different body.
In a unique and innovative approach,the seriesenables the audience to not only participatein the progression of the series, but to portray the main characterthrough the character’s Facebook timeline, and even in filmed episodes. While only a minor role, Balfe does feature as Alex #34. Other stars who portrayed the transforming lead includeMatthew Gray GublerandAnna Akana, whileMary Elizabeth Winsteadfeatures as Leah, the girl Alex falls in love with the instant he sees her.
The Beauty Inside
10’H+' (aka ‘H+: The Digital Series’) (2012–2013)
Appeared as Breanna Sheehan
Another intriguing triumph of web series brilliance, and one that saw Balfe star in a much more prominent role,H+excels as an enticing meditation on the dangers of technology. Set in a near future with one-third of the population being connected to the internet 24/7 through an implanted chip, it explores the apocalyptic nightmare that unfolds when a hacker implements a computer virus that kills everyone with the chip. Bouncing forwards and backwards with its non-linear narrative, it covers a variety of characters as it explores how such an atrocity could have happened through multiple perspectives.
While episodes were released weekly through YouTube from August 2012 to January 2013,H+still utilized the full scope of possibilities unique to web series, including the release of supplemental content through the title’s official website that included additional videos and images.It remains a largely undiscovered gem in Balfe’s pre-fame filmography, and one of the better web series the medium has seen, particularly in the 2010s.
9’Lost Angeles' (2012)
Appeared as Veronique
An indie comedy-drama focusing on the whirlwind that life can be in thecity of Los Angeles,Lost Angeleswas the first feature-length film to give Balfe a real chance to showcase her acting talents. The film follows a homeless ex-con as he is released from prison and moves to L.A. where he claims to be a legitimate photographer to get work.
As Jared (Kelly Blatz) becomes embroiled in the sleazy underbelly of celebrity stardom, the film takes on a grittier tone, one that Balfe was well suited to with her minor role as Veronique. The film was directed by acclaimed cinematographerPhedon Papamichael.
8’Super 8' (2011)
Appeared as Elizabeth Lamb
Released in 2011,J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi thriller is something of an overlooked gem in his blockbuster filmography. Set in 1979, it follows a group of kids using a super 8 camera to film a zombie film when they accidentally capture a terrible train crash on film only to discover it may not have been an accident as strange things start happening around town.
With the aura of the summer blockbuster hits fromSteven Spielberg’s early days,Super 8excelled as an effects-driven action spectacle, but it found its true brilliance in its quieter, more dramatic notes. Despite only appearing in flashbacks and photos,Caitríona Balfe had a huge emotional impact on the film as the recently deceased mother of one of the kidsand the late wife of the town’s Deputy Sheriff.
7’Escape Plan' (2013)
Appeared as Jessica Miller
Yet another minor role before her career erupted,Escape Planfeatured Balfe in the small but important part of Jessica Miller, the CIA operative who hires renowned jailbreaker Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) to escape from a top-secret maximum-security prison. The majority of the film follows Breslin as he befriends fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and plots his escape.
Eventually, it is revealed that Rottmayer is Jessica Miller’s father, and she hired Breslin to mastermind his escape.The film has achieveda certain cult classic statusand gave Balfe a meaningful supporting rolealongside two of the biggest names in Hollywood history.
Escape Plan
6’Money Monster' (2016)
Appeared as Diane Lester
Directed by Jodie Foster,Money Monsterwas a compact thriller that followed the host of a financial television show as he and the crew are held hostage by an outraged investor. The true villain of the film turns out to be Walt Camby (Dominic West), a CEO whose manipulation of a trading algorithm for self-gain was what resulted in the financial crisis of the young gunman and many others around the world.
Catriona Balfe portrays Camby’s chief communications officer who proves to be the underlying hero of the film, using her inside information on Camby to investigate his wrongdoing and reveal the truth. The socioeconomic themes gave the film a distinct modern punch, one which thrived off the back of its impressive cast.
