Thread by @ScotExpress

From the catwalk to time-traveling #Outlander star 🇮🇪 scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/tv/outlanders-…

Outlander's leading lady @caitrionambalfe opened up about her 'miserable' career before being cast in the beloved hit show.

Balfe, 42, plays time-travelling nurse Claire Fraser in the Starz historical drama, alongside Scots favourite Sam Heughan.

📸 Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Irish star is no stranger to the big screen, starring in iconic films including The Devil Wears Prada and Now You See Me

But in her early career, Caitriona was a high fashion catwalk model, appearing in hundreds of runway shows in the early 2000s.

Here she's pictured walking for #victoriasecret but Balfe also walked for the likes of Chanel, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen.

But Caitriona has since admitted life on the runway wasn’t always as glam as it looks.

“For the last couple of years I was miserable, really.

“It’s not exactly the nicest industry or the healthiest industry.”

After nearly 10 years showcasing some of fashion’s top brands, the job she began taking acting roles.

Caitriona then decided to take the leap and move from New York to Los Angeles, and the rest is #Outlander history.

📸 Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Well almost. Caitriona said it had it's dark times too.

She was initially dropped by her manager, who told her "You have to wear the dress and put the makeup on and do the hot-girl thing".

“It was so not me,” Caitriona said. “I’m glad I knew that I wanted to do it with integrity, if that makes any sense.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before she found international success with #Outlander and became one of television’s most recognisable heroines.