'Outlander' actress Caitriona Balfe: 'Filming starts spectacularly early - sometimes 4.30am'

Caitriona Balfe

Irish actress Caitriona Balfe has revealed that she turns into a teenager when on set with her co-star Sam Heughan.

The Monaghan model-turned-actress's star is on the rise as she is finding fame as Claire, a WWII nurse in the cult series Outlander.

But being a leading lady means some spectacularly early starts, sometimes from 4.30am.

"Then you get your hair and make-up done by the lovely hair and make-up people," she said.

But life on the show means she has variety at least and Caitriona said she enjoys kidding around with her co-stars.

"We travel all around so it's always very varied.

"Sam and I usually descend into complete adolescence and usually hit each other with things or just do stupid voices - that's what happens a lot," she said. "It's always a lot of fun."

The series is based on the hugely successful books by author Diana Gabaldon and follows the character as she is mysteriously transported back in time to the Scottish Highlands of 1743.

Caitriona was scouted as a model when she was just 20 after being spotted collecting for charity outside the Swan Centre in Rathmines. She began her career on the books of Assets before being whisked to the Paris catwalks.

She was last seen on the silver screen in Escape Plan with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Outlanders is currently on a mid-season break from RTE2.

hnews@herald.ie