Sam Heughan is a Scottish actor who is best known for his role in Outlander, the drama series based on Diana Gabaldon's eponymous historical fiction / fantasy novel series, which has been a huge success since it first premiered on Starz in 2014. Heughan has won several awards for his role as Jamie Fraser, and the role is responsible for bringing him a new level of success and recognition in his career.
Of course, Heughan has starred in many films and TV series prior to and between seasons of Outlander, from the movie Bloodshot (opposite Vin Diesel) to SAS: Red Notice (with Ruby Rose). Currently, he is being eyed to star in Days Gone, an upcoming movie adapted from the PlayStation zombie game. Season 7 of Outlander, per Cinema Blend, is also expected to air in 2023. Most significantly, as outlined by Parade, Heughan reportedly auditioned to be the next James Bond, but has since been "disqualified." Until the Scottish actor returns to our screens in one project or another, let's look back at his best performances, ranked.
7 Any Human Heart
Any Human Heart is a four-part drama that centers around the life of writer Logan Mountstuart, a life which spanned across every decade of the 20th Century. The Channel 4 series is led by Jim Broadbent, who delivers an excellent performance. Heughan has a smaller role here as Lieutenant McStay, but he still makes a strong impact when he is on-screen.
6 The Spy Who Dumped Me
The Spy Who Dumped Me was released in 2018 and is an action-comedy film directed by Susanna Fogel. The film features an ensemble cast, including Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Hasan Minhaj, and Gillian Anderson, as well as Heughan. The story centers around two friends (Kunis and McKinnon) who are chased through Europe after one of their ex-boyfriends turns out to be a CIA agent. Heughan plays a man named Sebastian, an agent who aids these friends throughout their journey, and it’s a fun performance in which Heughan holds his own against big comedy names in the industry.
5 A Princess for Christmas
A Princess for Christmas is a made-for-TV comedy directed by Michael Damian. The film stars Roger Moore, Katie McGrath, Charlotte Salt, Leilah de Meza, and Travis Turner, alongside Heughan. In this film, Heughan plays a prince who falls in love with an American woman while he is visiting his holiday home. The film is expectedly cheesy, but it’s a different kind of role for Heughan, one he succeeds in, in portraying an archetypal "prince charming" character.
4 Emulsion
Emulsion is a smaller scale film that has been described as a noir psychological thriller. The plot centers around a man whose wife disappears without a trace at a parking garage, so he visits the site daily in hopes of her return. When he sees another woman being abducted, he embarks on a mission to find his wife. The film’s premise is similar to a regular action type of film, however, Heughan brings a flare to the role that successfully pulls us into the journey.
3 To Olivia
To Olivia was released in 2021, directed by John Hay, and starred Hugh Bonneville as Roald Dahl and Keeley Hawes as Patricia Neal. The film is based on Stephen Michael Shearer’s biography, covering Dahl and Neal’s marriage, as well as the loss of their daughter, Olivia, to measles. Heughan plays Paul Newman, another real-life figure, and he embodies the character and his likeness extremely well.
2 Bloodshot
Bloodshot was released in 2020 and is a superhero film based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name. The film was directed by David S.F. Wilson and starred Vin Diesel in the leading role, as well as performances by Eiza González, Heughan, Toby Kebbell, and Guy Pearce. The film follows a solider who was killed in action, however, he comes back to life with superpowers with the help of an organization that wishes to use him for their own gain. Heughan plays Jimmy Dalton in a supporting role and holds his own against the rest of the cast. The film did not perform well at the box office and received negative reviews, however, Heughan delivers a strong performance.
1 Outlander
At the top of our list is the role that many of us will always associate with Heughan: his role as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, a Scottish soldier who ends up in a love affair with Claire Fraser, a nurse with the ability to time travel. The show has been a huge success and remains the source of Heughan’s blossoming career. Its sixth just released earlier this year on the network, and we can't wait to see what the seventh season holds for Jamie and Claire.