Inside Outlander star Lauren Lyle's life before Karen Pirie role

Daily Record

3 days ago

Lauren Lyle is returning to screens as Karen Pirie for a second season of the ITV detective series - here's everything you need to know about the actress away from the cameras
Lauren Lyle is set to reprise her role as Karen Pirie in the second series of the ITV detective drama.
The 32-year-old actress is perhaps most recognised for her portrayal of Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in Outlander, where she stars alongside Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan.
Her acting credits also include playing Jade Antoniak in the BBC's Vigil, as well as roles in Netflix's Toxic Town and The Bombing on Pan Am 103.
On the theatrical front, Lauren has graced the stage in productions such as The Crucible, Wuthering Heights, Consensual and Merchant of Venice.
She first made a name for herself in the West End after relocating to London at 19, which was followed by her television debut on BBC Three's BBC Comedy Feeds, in an episode titled Radges, reports the Express.
Subsequently, she appeared in Holby City and starred opposite Sean Bean in the BBC drama Broken.
Her breakthrough role came in 2017 with Outlander, and the following year saw Lauren feature in the film adaptation of Fiona Shaw's novel Tell It to the Bees, sharing screen time with Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger.
In addition to her acting career, Lauren hosts a podcast called She's A Rec, where she engages guests in discussions about their top picks for albums, films, books and influential female figures.
Her portrayal of the intrepid young Scottish detective Karen Pirie earned her the accolades of Best Actress - Television and Favourite Scot on Screen at the 2023 Bafta Awards Scotland.
Lauren previously spoke to The Sunday Post about her journey to fame, recalling how she moved to London and shared a house with four strangers while working multiple part-time jobs in an attempt to secure her big break.
During the interview, she revealed: "I came to London to audition for drama schools and came close but didn't get in. I think I'd only been to London once before as a kid but didn't remember it.
"I was so hungry for it, and being around other actors in this world was so thrilling and I knew this was what I wanted to do and the place to do it."
Lauren, who confessed to having always had a "deluded confidence" and a fiercely competitive nature, had held various positions - ranging from dog walker and flyering, to working as a receptionist, and even stocktaking at Zara - for several months.
This was all before her life changed when she landed the two significant roles in Outlander and Broken within mere weeks of each other.
Lauren candidly described the journey as a struggle, saying: "It was bleak at times but I loved going to the theatre and seeing this life dangled in front of me. It was quite inspiring," but expressed that going to the theatre served as an inspiration for her.
When not on-screen, Lauren has largely maintained a low-profile, except when giving glimpses into her professional life and travels on social media.
However, she did use the opportunity during the 2023 interview with The Sunday Post to acknowledge her romantic relationship, confirming that her boyfriend would be joining her at the Baftas.
Lauren shared: "My parents are coming - my dad has a new velvet jacket to go with his tartan troos - as is my boyfriend, who is South-African-Australian, but we've recently discovered he has lots of Scottish heritage, so he might wear a kilt."