Why did Outlander replace Laura Donnelly with Kristin Atherton as Jenny?
OUTLANDER has returned with new episodes of the seventh series, featuring a notable cast change.
A different actress plays the role of Jenny Murray, who hadn’t been seen on the show since season three.
When Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Young Ian (John Bell) return to Lallybroch after years in America, they are reunited with the Fraser family matriarch — although she is now portrayed by a different actress.
From the start of the first until the end of the third season of Outlander, the role of Jenny Murray was played by Northern Ireland‘s Laura Donnelly.
But on the character’s return to the show in episode nine of season seven, English actress Kristin Atherton assumed the role.
Kristin told Decider: “From the second I got this job, I was like, ‘There is no way you can step into Laura’s shoes’.
“I’m a huge fan of hers, anyway. I’ve seen her on stage. She’s phenomenal.
“So it became obvious to me really quickly, don’t try [to be her]. Just just do what you can do.”
While Starz announced that Laura would be replaced by Kristin when season six finished in 2022, no official reason was revealed at the time and one hasn’t been forthcoming since.
Laura had not appeared in an episode of Outlander since 2017.
Here we take look at the possible reasons behind the changeover of actresses.
Smaller role & pregnancy
Laura portrayed Jenny Murray in the earlier seasons of Outlander, but left for other roles when the storyline moved the main protagonists away from Scotland in 2017, meaning the character of Jenny would not be featuring in storylines.
During this period, she was also pregnant with her second child.
After she stepped away from the role for these reasons, her acting schedule also became extremely busy.
Scheduling conflicts
Since her last appearance in season three, Laura has taken on a number of roles, which could very well have affected her decision not to return to the show.
Her career took off in various directions, including:
From the second I got this job, I was like, ‘There is no way you can step into Laura’s shoes’
Kristin Atherton
- Starring in HBO‘s The Nevers
- Appearing in films such as Tolkien (2019) and The Heist Before Christmas (2023)
- Taking on Broadway roles, including The Ferryman (2018-19) where she starred alongside Hugh Jackman and won the Laurence Olivier Award for best actress, and The Hills of California (2024-?)
These commitments, particularly her Broadway performances, would have made it difficult for Laura to return to the Outlander set for season seven.
Why was Kristin Atherton cast as Jenny Murray?
Kristin was chosen to take over the role of Jenny Murray in Outlander for several reasons.
She had initially auditioned for the role when Laura was first cast, indicating her long-standing interest in the character.
The new storyline required an actor who could portray Jenny at different ages — in her 20s and 50s — both younger and older versions than Laura had played.
Outlander showrunner Matthew B. Roberts hinted at the flexibility that time travel elements bring to the show, allowing them to revisit characters in different eras and places.
He said in a statement to Business Insider: “One of the many joys of our epic story is the element of time travel which allows us to revisit some of our favourite characters in different times and places,”
This narrative device may have also influenced the decision to recast, as it opens up possibilities for exploring Jenny’s character at various points in her life.
In the UK, Outlander season seven, part two dropped on Amazon Prime Video and MGM+ at 1am on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
In the US, the season premier aired on Starz at 8pm ET on November 22, 2024, with subsequent episodes being broadcast every Friday at the same time — they are also available on the premium channel’s streaming service.