Lauren Lyle Reveals How ‘Outlander’ Prepared Her for Star Turn in ‘Karen Pirie’

Lauren Lyle whipped onto the screen in season 3 of Outlander like a tornado as Marsali, the stepdaughter of Jamie and Claire Fraser. Her first day on set found her going head-to-head with leads Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Today, she is playing the young Scottish detective Karen Pirie, who is thrust into the limelight to lead a murder case from the 1990s. Think, Serial except Scottish.

Lyle sat down with SheKnows to tell us all about her thrilling and suspenseful new show, whether she’ll be back on Outlander, and what she learned from working with Balfe and Heughan that prepared her to lead in Karen Pirie. She also shares a little Easter egg from a memorable Outlander scene she shared with Balfe. Watch the exclusive video chat above to find out.

From the minute Marsali walked into the Outlander world, the audience knew she was a force of nature. The same can be said of Karen Pirie. Lyle tells us that her character is assigned to a high profile unsolved murder case that has resurfaced because of a podcast, a la the true crime series Serial. Pirie learns shortly after receiving the assignment that she was most likely put in the role merely to check a gender box. But that just fuels Pirie’s drive to solve the murder and prove herself. Ah, sexism, Scotland and a bad ass young, unapologetic detective. Lyle was born for this role.

What She’s Learned from Caitríona Balfe & Sam Heughan

Looking back to her start on Outlander, Lyle tells us a little about what her first day on set was like. “I remember walking into the studios on my first day on Outlander, and being like, ‘Oh my God!’ like you couldn’t see, it was all so dark, everything was candlelit. And Caitríona and Sam – Caitríona, in particular was very intimidating! I remember being like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s so beautiful and tall!’ And then I had to call her a ‘whore’ on my first day!”

What a way to start a job! And about that scene… Lyle confesses her famous line to Balfe was not originally filmed the way it made it to air! Once you hear what was changed, you’ll want to re-watch the scene!

From working with Balfe and Heughan on the hit Starz series, Lyle says it was like being “thrown in the deep end. It’s such an enormous scale of a show, you don’t really have time to make too many mistakes.” But she learned quickly to trust herself and have confidence. Like Balfe and Heughan, Lyle now leads her own set. “There’s a whole responsibility that comes with it, there’s a difference being a lead in something and also the name of the show, you’re number one on the call sheet, you command the set, and set the tone. I really felt like I had to host a party every day, and I wanted everyone to have a good time.”

“Seeing people like Caitríona command a set – I always thought she commanded a set very well, [she] was always thanking crew, always trying to keep things upbeat, she really cared and would… speak up about the things that mattered about the work,” Lyle raves. She adds, “And Sam, the same, them as a partnership, they’re really great as a team.”

Lyle speaks fondly of not only working with Balfe and Heughan, but credits her other Outlander mom, Nell Hudson, who plays Laoghaire, with holding her hand the first day. Even after crushing that intimidating Outlander experience, Lyle admits she felt nervous during her first day playing a young detective in Karen Pirie. And all she had to do was walk in a field with headphones! Much easier than calling the lead a “whore!” But like Marsali and Karen, Lyle is a strong leader who doesn’t want to disappoint people. Lyle says that like Outlander, the Karen Pirie set is very collaborative, and she loves working alongside the creator and her co-star Emer Kenny.

Will Lyle Return to Outlander?

For all the Outlander fans, we asked Lyle the most important question of them all — Will Marsali and Fergus (César Domboy) be in Outlander season 7? Last we saw, in season 6, they left the Ridge with all 100 of their children. We could tell you what she said, or you can watch the video to find out! One thing is for sure, wherever Marsali is in the 1770s, she’s definitely pregnant and thriving.

As for what Outlander and Karen Pirie have in common, Lyle says, “Nothing.” But they share on important element: Lauren Lyle, a force that you will want to watch no matter who she is playing, whether it’s a smart, feisty detective, or a butchering and breeding bad ass, Lyle proves we will follow her wherever she goes. And hope that she’ll come back to visit her old stomping grounds. Check out the full video chat to hear all about Karen Pirie and Marsali Fraser and the woman behind them both! Karen Pirie is currently airing on BritBox.

Before you go, check out the all-time best ‘Outlander’ episodes you need to watch.