Izzy Meikle-Small On Returning As Rachel Murray In The Final Season Of Outlander

All good things must come to an end – and such is the case with Starz’s long-running Outlander, which returns for its eighth and final season this weekend. We sat down with Izzy Meikle-Small who stars as Rachel Murray to get her inside takes on the last hurrah.

‘This season we have gone even bigger.’
Photographer: Brennan Bucannan
Stylist: Grace Radhakrishnan
Make-up: Nohelia Reyes

Q&A: Izzy Meikle-Small On Outlander

Hi Izzy, how’s life going at the moment?

Good thank you! It feels like it’s been a very busy start to the year. We like busy.

Outlander is back for its eighth and final season. What do we have in store this time?

Outlander is known for its epic scale in terms of its romance arcs, the battle scenes, the spanning across different times – but I do think this season we have gone even bigger. There’s something for everyone and there’s a lot of drama.

You play Rachel Murray – how would you describe her this season?

Rachel is in a new phase of life now. She’s married, she’s about to have a baby, she’s settled. And then, of course, something comes along to disrupt that peace. She has to reckon with some very difficult emotional decisions. She has to make a lot of difficult compromises in order to fight for what she truly cares for – her family.

How has she changed since you joined Outlander in season 7?

At the beginning of season 7, Rachel feels like a girl who throughout the course of the season becomes a woman. Her arc is a real ‘coming of age’ arc. She’s on her first big adventure, finds love, and her independence. And now, she’s a wife and mother. That’s a lot of growth! I think her core has always remained the same however – she’s independent, feisty, kind, and deeply loyal to those she loves.

How did it feel when you got the part back then?

I remember I was in my old flat in South London with my boyfriend, and I just burst into tears. I was so excited to get started, and I think I flew up to Glasgow two weeks later. It was all a bit of a whirlwind.

How do you get into character?

The costume and sets make our job as actors very easy. We have an incredible team building, sewing and knitting away so that when we step onto set it’s like going back in time. You cannot underestimate the power of that. But for me specifically, language was a huge tool. Rachel is a Quaker and speaks in plain speech, which means there is a reminder of her faith in every line. Or at least, that’s how I think of it. Her religion and her personhood are so entwined that every motive and action becomes a question of whether this her choice, or a choice led by faith.

What was the vibe on set for this final season?

At the beginning there was so much joy! Everyone was so happy to be together, it felt like a homecoming. And then in the final weeks, there started to be a lot of sporadic tears. A lot of ‘lasts’, and everyone slowly got more and more emotional. Everyone wrapped at different times, so that really elongated the goodbye process. Some people have been making that show for over 10 years, so I can’t even begin to imagine how that must have felt.

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming?

Any scenes where the whole ensemble cast get to be together are always my favourite. We get so giddy to be all together, and I think we are probably a bit of a pain for the crew… Someone gets the giggles and it spreads fast. We’re very lucky that we all get on so well, and those will definitely be the times that I think back on the most.

Who brings the best vibe to set?

John Bell is like a Duracell Bunny. It could be 3am on a night shoot and that boy still has unbounded energy.

‘Any scenes where the whole ensemble cast get to be together are always my favourite.’
Photographer: Brennan Bucannan
Stylist: Grace Radhakrishnan
Make-up: Nohelia Reyes

What has been your favourite project to date?

It’s hard to pick favourites. Never Let Me Go was an amazing experience as it was my first ever film, and I’m still friends with the other actors from that job. And then Outlander has had a huge impact on my life over the last few years. It’s been an amazing experience, and I’ve made friends I’ll have for life. What more can you ask for!

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

Olivia Colman played my mum when I was about 17. She was amazing. So funny, so generous, and amazing to get to watch her work.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

Watching Caitriona Balfe on Outlander has been wonderful. She’s so kind, smart and funny, and watching the way she leads a set has been a big learning curve. It’s a show that’s run for over a decade, and she manages to spin so many plates with such grace.

What’s your dream role?

I’ve always wanted to play the villain! Now that I’m getting older, I’m hoping I can get away from playing characters that are so wide eyed. It’s been fun, but it would be really fun to be the bad guy.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

I’ve never done comedy, and it looks like so much fun. The last few years on Outlander I’ve had to do a lot of crying, so it would be nice to change gear!

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

I’ve always loved Paul Thomas Anderson, he is truly one of the greats.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

It can be tricky, especially when you are on a job. Often you are away from home for long stints so it’s hard to see family and friends, but we are so lucky now that we can call or FaceTime so easily. I think it’s something you learn to juggle and manage as you get older. I’m definitely still learning.

How can we all live a little bit better?

I’m learning to not go on my phone as much. If you can avoid looking at your phone for the first hour of the day, I guarantee you you will be in a better mood, and you’ll look at it less throughout the rest of the day.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

I’m hoping to direct my first short film this year. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and it looks like it might finally happen. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

‘I’ve always wanted to play the villain.’
Photographer: Brennan Bucannan
Stylist: Grace Radhakrishnan
Make-up: Nohelia Reyes

What Izzy Meikle-Small Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… I just watched the film Train Dreams (2025). So beautiful, and so devastating,

What I’m reading… Wuthering Heights – I had to reread before the film!

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Sentimental Value (2025). Anything Joachim Trier does.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… The Odyssey

Favourite film of all time… I loved The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Favourite song of all time… That’s tricky it changes, but right now, ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ by Fairport Convention.

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Nick Drake

My ultimate cultural recommendation… The Courtauld Gallery in London

Cultural guilty pleasure… Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model

Outlander season 8 commences Friday 6 March in the US, before landing on in the UK on Saturday 7 March on MGM+ via Prime Video.

WATCH