Why Jenny Was Recast in ‘Outlander’ Season 7

The final episodes of Outlander’s seventh season finally returned to Starz in November, and fans couldn’t be more excited. When viewers last saw Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitríona Balfe) in the midseason finale, the pair were on their way back to Scotland with Young Ian (John Bell) after more than a decade away. During the show’s third season, Ian was captured by pirates, prompting Claire and Jamie to go after him, which eventually took them all to Jamaica. After reuniting and attempting to return home, the trio were caught in a hurricane and washed ashore in America, where they ultimately decided to stay. Needless to say, it’s been a long time since they were all in Scotland, which means quite a bit has changed, including one major actress.

During Outlander’s earlier seasons, the role of Jenny Murray, Ian’s mother and Jamie’s sister, was played by Laura Donnelly. However, as the series continues with its penultimate season, the role of Jenny has been recast and is now portrayed by Kristin Atherton. In a show known for its character development and rich narrative, recasting such an important character clearly isn’t done arbitrarily. That being said, fans were understandably caught off guard when the news was first announced in the wake of the show’s sixth season finale in 2022. Jenny might have been absent for a few seasons, but fans of the series, and readers of the books, knew she would be back at some point, which meant Donnelly and her stubborn charm would inevitably return. Nonetheless, Jenny has been recast, which undoubtedly makes viewers wonder why.

Laura Donnelly Is Occupied With Other Projects

While there’s no official word on why Donnelly was replaced, her busy schedule might have something to do with it. From television to Broadway, she hasn’t been idle during her time away from the Scottish highlands. Since she was last seen in the show’s third season, Donnelly has starred in HBO’s short-lived series, The Nevers, Disney+’s television special Werewolf by Night, Hulu’s Say Nothing, and the Broadway shows, The Hills of California and The Ferryman, the latter of which earned her a Tony nomination.

Along with her bustling career, Donnelly’s role as a mother could also be a reason for her permanent Outlander departure. Following her exit from the show in 2017 and during her performance in The Ferryman, Donnelly was actually pregnant with her second daughter. Now a mother of two, filming such a massive series on location might no longer fit into her busy schedule both personally and professionally.

Jenny Is an Important Part of ‘Outlander’s Story

Release Date

August 9, 2014

Cast

Caitriona Balfe , Sam Heughan , Tobias Menzies , Graham McTavish , Lauren Lyle , Stephen Walters , Gary Lewis , Nell Hudson , Lotte Verbeek , César Domboy , Richard Rankin , Sophie Skelton

Seasons

8

Because of how the narrative of the show unfolds, excluding Jenny from the story because of Donnelly’s absence was not a viable option. Her stature in the series isn’t that of Jamie or Claire, but her presence is an integral part of how the world of Outlander evolves. Given how often the main characters find themselves at Lallybroch during her time, their interactions with Jenny are inevitable and necessary. During Jamie and Claire’s time in America, it was easy to merely talk about Jenny in passing because she didn’t need to have a physical presence onscreen.

However, with the pair having made their way back to Scotland in the latter half of Season 7, it doesn’t make sense for Jenny to only exist in the background via letters or conversations. Furthermore, Jenny has never ventured far from her home, which means when Jamie, Claire, and Young Ian return to Lallybroch, they have to see her. If there are developments at the homestead that span more than one or two episodes, she has to be there.

Back in Season 4, when Bree traveled to the 18th century to warn her parents of their death, she found her way to Lallybroch at a rare time when Jenny wasn’t there. However, that’s not how it happens in the books. Jenny and Bree actually meet in Diana Gabaldon’s novels, but the series excuses Jenny’s absence by explaining she was assisting with the birth of one of her grandchildren. While the series could have made up something once more, because of the death that occurs in the second part of Season 7, there was no way for such events to unfold without Jenny there.

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How Does Kristin Atherton’s Jenny Compare to Donnelly’s in ‘Outlander’?

It’s certainly no easy feat stepping into a role another actress embodied so well. However, rather than imitate Donnelly’s previous performance, Atherton definitely makes Jenny her own. Given how different the character is since viewers last saw her, both in age and life experience, Atherton’s portrayal doesn’t feel like such a shock. She’s matured in numerous ways and Atherton illustrates those changes well. Interestingly enough, she actually auditioned for the role of Jenny when the show was first developed.

While it may take some viewers time to get used to the new Jenny, there’s no denying Atherton fully claims the role for herself. As someone who admired Donnelly’s previous performance and already had some familiarity with the role, Atherton was able to step into 18th century Scotland without much effort.

New episodes of Outlander premiere every Friday on Starz and the Starz app.