Scott Kyle is an actor and theatre director in Rutherglen Scotland who has become a household name for his portrayal of Ross the Smith in the hugely popular television series Outlander. Outlander is produced by Ronald D Moore of Battlestar Galactica fame and appears on the Starz network in the US and Showcase in Canada.
The production is based on the multi-book, mega-hit, series written by author Diana Gabaldon who acts as an advisor for the show. The screen adapted production; which is largely filmed in and around Scotland can be best described as the romantic, time travel and historical adventure of one married Claire Randall, a 1940’s World War II nurse who unexpectedly falls back in time to the 1740’s at the height of the Jacobite uprisings where she meets her future husband the Scottish Highlander Jamie.
Kyles’ role as Ross, in the second season of the series has catapulted the Scot native to instant recognition in part thanks to the social media of Facebook and Twitter.
Celtic Canada recently sat down with the busy actor to find out about his “Scottishness” and how he became a part of the Outlander phenomenon.
CC: You live in Rutherglen, a suburb of Glasgow; what was it like growing up there?
SK: I’m a hometown boy. I loved growing up in Rutherglen it’s a Royal Borough. My granny, wee Sadie used to love coming to Rutherglen. She lived about five miles down the road, she always said because it was a Royal Borough, she reckoned they got more money to keep the streets clean and to keep the shops nicer. Sadie always thought it was a nice area and I always thought the same. I grew up with my Mum and my brother, only one parent. My Mum held three jobs, so in the morning we would get up for school and there would be a couple pounds left on the table and she would be away to work and wouldn’t get home until 10 at night. My brother and I had to fend for ourselves quite a lot so it made us independent and self reliant.
CC: Was there a significant moment in your life that turned your focus to acting?
SK: Yes definitely. I have always loved telling a joke or a story or entertaining people but at the age of 21, Karen, who is my wife, was my girlfriend at the time came in with a college course prospectus; just a booklet of the courses you could do in college. She said why don’t you go to college and do something because at the time I was working in supermarkets. She gave me the prospectus for a acting and I said “I’m sure there’s more to acting than singing drunk on the karaoke.” I’m sure there’s much more to it than that because that was about as brave as I had been at the time. I went to college and it really inspired me. I think I fell in love with the people more than the acting; I really enjoyed being around the creative people and the creative minds and I took it from there.
CC: What was your first paid acting role and what did you learn from it?
SK: My first paid job was working with a company called Baldybane which was a children’s theater school which did road safety. Through TIE (Theatre in Education) young actors would go around to schools, in a safe environment to learn and fall on your bum. The audience was children, the teachers were grateful to get an hour off and they weren’t too worried about the quality of the performance, obviously as an actor you are, but if you mess up it’s not too bad.
Kyle portrayed Clancy in the film The Angel’s Share and real life Corporal Stu Pearson in the 2014 thriller Kajaki: Kilo Two Bravo; a gripping tale of a company of British soldiers battling an invisible enemy in the desert of Afghanistan. Kyle received the 2010 Stage Awards Best Actor Award for his role in the theatrical play Singin’ I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim which toured throughout Scotland and Ireland.
CC: The actors Robbie Coltrane and Richard Rankin were also born in Rutherglen; did they or any other actor inspire you to act?
SK: I don’t know if they inspired me to act; I’ve got loads of favourite actors like Stan Laurel (of Laurel and Hardy fame who was educated at Rutherglen Academy) there’s some well known faces that have come out of Rutherglen. “I don’t know. I don’t think unless Karen had brought in the booklet I don’t think it was anything I was ever going to actively pursue”. I went to theatre for the first time in college at 21. I think from watching those shows I fell in love with the Theatre. Theatre was more an inspiration to me than any individual.
CC: How did you hear about Outlander and the roles that were coming available?
SK: That’s kind of a funny one. I got a call from my agent to go down to London to audition for a role as a HUGE HAIRY Highlander called Angus for a show called Outlander. I’d never heard about Outlander and didn’t know much about it. I jumped on a train, went down to London, did the audition and to be honest, I never thought about it again. I did think as I was going down to London, “I’m not six foot and I couldn’t grow a big beard, so I don’t know why they would want to see me?” Since being involved in the show, I met the Angus (portrayed Stephen Walters in the first two seasons of the show) and he’s not six feet either but has a smashing beard! I got a phone call when working at the Edinburgh Festival to go and do an audition for Ross. It was only three lines in the audition, for a small part and I did a lot of researching, a lot of storyboarding, I worked out the politics of the whole scene. I did an awful lot of prep for those three lines. Thankfully it must have worked because I got the job. When I was on set it seemed that every day I was getting more and more to do and every day I would get invited back for the next week and the next week. Initially I was booked for four weeks and I was on set for twelve.
CC: Have you read the novels?
SK: When I got cast, I started to listen to the audiobooks of Dragonfly In Amber (the second book in the series which season two of the television show is based upon) because I thought that’s what I needed to do my homework on because that was the world I would be going into. I listened to the audiobook over and over again and would rewind any bits that said Ross. “I just tried to get a picture of the world in my head that I was going into and that we were creating”. I thought I wouldn’t have time to read the book because there was quite a quick turnaround from being cast to when we started filming. Since then I’ve been reluctant to continue with the books because the more I read the more I’ll think “Oh Ross could be in there” and I don’t want to do that to myself. If I ever get another phone call, I will stick to my formula and listen to the audiobook that relates to my character.
CC: Do you feel history was portrayed accurately in Outlander?
SK: I don’t know, I wasn’t there, none of us knows how accurate it is. As a kid in high school you get very basic history lessons regarding the history of the Scots, so if anything I was learning from the show. The history of the Battle of Prestonpans; that’s not something that I really had any information on until I went and worked on the show. History’s a funny, funny subject. It’s story telling passed on through generations and all we really have is a watered down version of the events. That’s the nature of the passed on wisdom, it’s watered down from the source. If anything, the show was wonderful to be part of. After we filmed Prestonpans my wife and I went up to Culloden, we’d never been to Culloden although we’re from Scotland; we’d never been. “Standing on the moor, I could see the Redcoats and I could see all the Highlanders because I’d filmed it all. I could see the battle, I could see Culloden because I’d filmed a Prestonpans in the show.”
CC: Where were your scenes shot for the show?
SK: My first days on the job were on location, so when the makeup and costume teams were fitting you up they asked, “Do you want gloves, do you want a hat?”. I was like, ya, ya, ya but then the next day we were filming on set in Cumbernauld and I’m sweating all of a sudden because we’re inside filming. I got to see a bit of Scotland although briefly because we moved locations, but it was nice. The 30,000 sq ft film studio owned by the private company Wardpark Studios is located in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire has been a boon to the local economy; not only creating jobs for the actors and extras employed for the production but for the various craftsmen who supply items from woolen wraps and kilts to swords and lances.
CC: There is a SAVE ROSS campaign happening on social media, what do you think of that?
SK: “I don’t know how much power that the fans have.” The folks making the show are planning things so far ahead, at least a year in advance to organize locations etc and I don’t know whether fans can have any effect although I wish they could. You’ve got to trust the writers and producers, they know what they’re doing. I would only go back if it benefited the show, the storytelling, the entertainment, a reason for the character to reappear. If Outlander phones, I will be there. The cliff ending, season two finale of Outlander finds one of the main characters, Jamie Fraser heading off to battle and his inevitable death at Culloden Moor. Jamie – portrayed by Scottish actor Sam Heughan – has knowledge of the outcome of the battle as told to him by his wife from the future – Claire portrayed by Irish actress Caitriona Balfe. Before the battle can commence Jamie secretly sends away his clansmen to the safety of his land in hopes of saving their lives. Ross the Smith is one of the men sent home to his lairds home; Lallybroch. The character of Ross took on a life of its own during the latter part of season two and a fan following soon exploded on the internet. The fans believe that Ross is still alive as he was sent home before the battle of Culloden; therefore he could reappear in future episodes and seasons. It is not without reason to have the writers make a slight change in the script from what is written the books if it works for the storyline. In the world of social media such as Facebook, online Outlander groups have been formed by the fans, for the fans in support of all things Outlander. Kyle has his own Facebook page where he interacts daily with friends and fans. Kylander is a group fan page where members can go to discuss Scott Kyle and his character Ross the Smith. Outlandish Canada, Outlandish UK, Outlanders in Ontario, Caitrionation, Heughan’s Heughligans are some of the
many groups that have been formed to bring fans together over the internet. Many members of these groups have planned fan gatherings and in some instances an actor from the show is in attendance. At the time of this writing, Kyle was off to the United States for the second time in as many months to appear at a fan gathering.
CC: Kylander is a fan based phenomenon what does it mean to you as an actor and in your personal life?
SK: For me it’s magical. The people that I’ve met and the connections I’ve made in my travels so far are from all over the world. People have come and visited me in Scotland. The connections that the fans have made through social media, they are meeting up and traveling the world together because of Outlander. “When I look at the fan base, they remind me of my Mum, I mean that in the most complimentary of ways. My Mum (Joyce Wilson) is taking up photography, going to see places, touring around going to the theatre on her own. At the stage she is in in her life she is making new friends who she has things in common with. I look at the fans when they reach out to me and think that they are in the same boat as my Mum. The Outlander fan base are using their interest as a great excuse to hook up, meet up and go and travel the world and have amazing experiences. I’m very proud of the support network that’s been born from this and I hope it continues. Many of the loyal Outlander fans (this writer included) started reading the book series in the late 90’s and have been waiting for years for the beloved characters to come alive on screen. Most of said fans are in their late 50’s and early 60’s with discretionary income available to pursue such new adventures, friendships and travel.
CC: Your Twitter following WOW!! Your fans are amazed that you follow them back?
SK: I know. Over 200,000 following me and growing every day. I don’t know what I’m doing or where this is going but I love following everyone of my followers back and get excited when main characters on the show like Sam and Caitriona follow me. I even had Steven Segal follow me. It’s so important to me to follow back the fans on Twitter. If someone is interested in me, then I’m interested in them. I’m just as amazed that a person would follow me, so I follow them. I mean that sincerely. I think social media is about connecting, so for me it would be strange to be on it and not connect. “There is no point in it being a one way dialogue, everything I post and no engagement.” I’m as excited when it’s your birthday as you are when it’s mine.
Kyles’ birthday is the 27th of June and we expect his Twitter account and Facebook page will be exploding with well wishes from his fans and followers all around the globe.
CC: How did you come to be the theatre director at the Regal Community Theatre Bathgate?
SK: Five years ago the theatre was closing down, they had a public meeting, which I attended and I was offered work two days a week to try and keep the theatre going. I invested my own money in the project and that’s what I’ve been trying to do for the past five years. Without the help of funds raised by the Outlander fans this past year – some £80,000- the theatre probably would have failed, it would have closed. The expenses of the theatre rise every year and less people are visiting and seeing the shows.
CC: Susan Boyle is the patron of the theatre, how did that come about?
SK: Susan was involved with the theatre long before me, during my time we asked her to be the patron of the theatre. To be the face of the theatre, to inspire youngsters and Susan has done that on a massive scale. She has joined in classes with the students, helping and supporting them. She’s been a huge help.
CC: You produced a Highlander Fling fundraiser for the theatre last fall and are planning another for this September, what can fans expect?
SK: You will have to wait and see. Expect the unexpected. We promised myself and a few extras from the show for last years’ fundraiser and we were able to surprise the fans by including Stephen Walters (Angus Mhor), Stephen Cree (Ian Murray) Adhamh O’Broin (Gaelic consultant for the show) along with Susan Boyle. The fans seemed to be blown away by the fling. Hopefully it’s bigger and better than ever this year.
CC: The Bathgate Kilt Studio recently presented you with your own Kylander Tartan and kilt, have you always sported a kilt or is this something new since your part in Outlander?
SK: There’s an old picture of me when I was a wee lad wearing a kilt. I use the word kilt loosely because it’s actually an old skirt that my Mom dre
ssed me in for Halloween one year.
There’s a famous song in Scotland, Donald Where’s Your Troosers I loved this song and used to sing it all the time. So one year my Mom said we will get you dressed up as a Scotsman to go around the doors for Halloween and I thought it was great because I could go around singing Donald where’s your trousers. I wore a kilt at my wedding to get married in and at the premiere of the movie Kajaki. Having a kilt made by the Bathgate Kilt Studio has been incredible, so the Kylanders have their own tartan, which is very impressive.
CC: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
SK: Wherever I will be, I trust it’s the right place to be.
CC: There’s jokes going around the internet suggesting Scotland become part of Canada, what do you think?
SK: My take on that is “On the round planet, there’s no taking up sides, we’re all the same, we all need each other.”
The young Scot seems to know where he wants his career to be heading and is okay if Outlander is not a part of that future. In the meantime the recognition he has garnered from his wee part of the television series is still growing, sending his Twitter followers to 220,000 at last count. That’s not too shabby considering that Sam Heughan, the lead actor in the series has 333,000.
In closing the interview I asked Kyle several rapid fire questions.
City or Countryside? Countryside
Edinburgh or Glasgow? Glasgow
Twice Haggis or Stuffing? Haggis
Whiskey or Beer? Beer
Kilt or Trousers? Kilt
Twitter or Facebook? Facebook
Phone or Text? Phone
Handyman or Hire someone? Hire someone (with a chuckle)
Highlands or Seaside? Seaside
Golf, Football (soccer) or Rugby? Football
Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert
Sunrise or Sunset? Sunset
Interview conducted by Deborah Anne Hall on behalf of Celtic Canada –
Deborah is of Irish and Scottish heritage. Lives in Southern Ontario.
Recently retired. She loves to entertain, travel and journal.
This is her second published article.
