Fan favourite David Berry having the time of his life
Since joining the cast of Outlander in 2016, David Berry’s character has become the object of adoration.
Season five of Outlander had just wrapped up when fans erupted into panic. Reports and rumours were swirling over the possible departure of the beloved Lord John Grey, played by Australian actor David Berry. “Don’t like goodbyes, tears or sighs,” Berry had written on Instagram, a post that unwittingly sparked a full-scale meltdown in the Outlander universe.
“Oh no! Now I’m worried! I hope you only mean ‘goodbye’ for this season and not leaving the show,” a fan implored, a reaction echoed by members of the show’s vast fandom in the absence of any official announcement.
For Berry the response was a welcome surprise.
“The character says goodbye at the end of season five, and goes off to England and I think fans took that as the character never returning,” the 38-year-old Sydney-based actor explains.
“Of course I had hopes and dreams for the character as I’m sure the fans do, but I think the one thing that we are certain about with John is we really never know when he’s going to pop up.”
For Outlander fans it has been a long two-year break between season five and season six, which returned this month to Foxtel and reunited stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in the historical drama which some have cheekily referred to as “Scottish erotica”. It’s the story of time-traveller Claire (Balfe), who falls in love with rugged Jamie (Heughan) in 18th century Scotland, though by season six the couple find themselves making a new life in America.
Devotees of the show call this break “Droughtlander”, and theories run wild as to developments in the highly bingeable show.
“It’s a huge responsibility and I don’t take it lightly,” Berry reveals.
“It sometimes weighs heavily on me, because I feel like there is an expectation and people have such love for this character, their expectations are held even more closely to their heart.”
Before Outlander first appeared on screens eight years ago, the stars of the show, including Berry, were relatively unknown.
Like many Australians, Berry started his career on Home and Away – in a role alongside Samara Weaving (Nine Perfect Strangers) before landing his first major job on the Australian television series A Place to Call Home playing the character James Bligh.
Since joining the cast of Outlander in 2016, Berry’s character – loyal, self-sacrificing, brave and yes, handsome, has become the object of adoration, something he puts down to author Diana Gabaldon’s writing and vision.
“He is a beloved character of hers and she has always given him a sort of special attention or a little extra TLC and that has translated over into the work habits of the artistic minds bringing her books to life,” he says, before describing how his unpredictable presence on the show adds to the character’s autonomy.
“How that intersects with the show is really interesting because he surprises whoever he runs into. That reception is always all the more important and dramatic when it occurs.”
The deep-seated affection for the show and its characters mirrors the utter obsession readers had for the books on which the show is based.
Written by Gabaldon, the first volume of the series was published in 1991, marking the beginning of a cultural phenomenon.
Despite eight more books and then the TV series, Berry still didn’t appreciate the sheer magnitude of Outlander’s popularity.
“I only knew once I started filming but my first inkling of it was when my casting was announced on the show’s social media and my Instagram just kept getting notifications constantly,” Berry says. “I think I knew I made it when I had to turn the notifications off,” he laughs.
Amid the network of complex relationships in Outlander, Lord John’s relationship to the Frasers stands out – remarkably given his infrequent appearances across the series. “The only constant in Lord John’s relationship with the Frasers is his devoted and undying love for them, which has taught me a lot about love in many ways,” he says.
“I try to mine and look further into how love is this compass and navigator in all these tricky and complex situations that they’re put through and how … love is still this guiding force.”
And fans rejoice: he’s definitely coming back for season seven.
New episodes of Outlander air Mondays on Foxtel
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