Here is a NEW Interview with Hannah James from Entertainment Weekly
From EW:
In Sunday’s episode of Outlander, Jamie (Sam Heughan) is blackmailed into having sex with Geneva Dunsany (Hannah James), a young virgin who is betrothed to an older man she does not love (much less like). EW talked with James about her action-packed episode and what it was like to film such a heavy and emotional sex scene. “It as one of the most bizarre Thanksgivings I have ever had in my life,” James admits, looking back.
More after the jump!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When you first got the script, was there a note at the beginning that said, “you’re not to look happy ever until you are in a scene with Sam Heughan?”
HANNAH JAMES: [Laughs] No it didn’t say that. I actually got the breakdown and I didn’t get the script until I accepted the role and I was in London getting my hair done. I read the script at the hair salon. I remember just sitting there and my jaw dropping when I got to the love scene. I was like, “Oh my God, what have I done.” With that said, it was a dream come true and I couldn’t have been happier.
You rode side saddle in that one scene with Sam! Have you ever done that before?
No, I haven’t. I was told when I was auditioning for the role that there was an asterisk at the bottom of the email that said, “Don’t even audition for this role if you can’t ride horses”‘ I haven’t ridden a horse since I was about 12 years old. So I was like, “Don’t tell anyone. I can absolutely ride. Pretend it’s totally fine.” When you are an actor, if somebody asks you if you can do something, you absolutely can. I told my agent, “Yeah, I grew up on a farm. I’ve been riding for years.” I thought it would be totally fine. When I got to set, I was trying on costumes, and they said “so your riding assessment is tomorrow.” I was like, “I’m being tested?” I was a little terrified, but it was totally fine. We rode astride for a little while and then switched over to side saddle. One leg became very sore because you are using one more than the other. But it was so much fun. When we filmed that scene, they had a hard time getting me off the horse. They were, “Hannah? You have to come down now.”
Both actors played the scene well.
I agree with you – they both did play their parts well.