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Outlander star Caitríona Balfe pens touching tribute to co-star Sam Heughan as he marks special milestone

The show's seventh season premiered in June

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in Outlander season seven
Nicky Morris
TV and film writer
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Outlander star Caitríona Balfe penned a heartwarming message to her co-star Sam Heughan in celebration of his tenth year playing Jamie Fraser in the popular historical drama. 

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Sam revealed that it's been a decade since he was cast as the leading role in the fantasy series. 

WATCH: Outlander's Sam Heughan reveals behind-the-scenes secrets from season seven

The actor celebrated the news by sharing a photo from the drama showing Sam dressed in character as Jamie. He wrote in the caption: "Happy castaverssary JAMMF! 10 years ago was lucky to be given the opportunity to be custodian of the ginger wig…@outlander_starz."

Fans flooded to the comments section to wish the 43-year-old a happy anniversary, with one person writing: "Thanks Sam for taking Jamie Fraser from the pages of a book and giving life to him for us all to enjoy. Happy 10th Castaversary!!" while another added: "The best casting decision ever made. Thank you for bringing this beloved character to life in such a special way. Congratulations on all of your hard work over these years."

Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser in Outlander© Starz
Sam Heughan celebrated ten years since being cast in the role of Jamie

Amongst the fans congratulating the star for his ten years in the role was his co-star and real-life friend, Caitríona Balfe.

Taking to the comments section, the Irish actress penned a sweet tribute to her on-screen husband that read: "The man, the myth, the legend …!!!! Happy Castaversary darling!!! (I may have been slightly premature a few days ago!!) So happy I got to go along on this insanely amazing journey with you. Much love, the old ball and chain x."

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe tribeca film festival© Getty
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe enjoy a close off-screen friendship

Fans were quick to express their delight over Caitríona's message, with one person writing: "I've never seen a friendship like it before. It's a lovely thing," while another commented: "@caitrionabalfe so beautiful. Best TV couple, we are so lucky with you both."

EXCLUSIVE: Outlander star Charles Vandervaart teases William finding out truth about Jamie

While Sam and Caitríona are certainly a winning duo on-screen, they also enjoy a close off-screen friendship and have often spoken about it in interviews. 

In a previous interview with Elle, the Belfast actress said: "Sam's just so kind. He's a really good friend. He always checks in. I don't know, he has one of the biggest hearts and smallest egos that I know.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in season seven
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe star in Outlander as Jamie and Claire Fraser

MORE: Who is Outlander star Caitríona Balfe's husband Tony McGill?

"I feel very lucky. Sam and I have an amazing bond, we're really great friends."

Meanwhile, Sam previously opened up to PopSugar, praising his co-star as "extremely talented and an extremely nice person." 

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe embrace and stare at each other as their characters in Outlander Season Seven© Starz
Sam and Caitriona have starred on the show since 2014

"Caitríona and I get on very well, and I'm very lucky," he said, later adding: "We have a lot of fun."

Caitríona recently admitted that the co-stars don't see each other outside of work as often as they used to due to their "much more complicated and busy" lives. 

While speaking at the 2023 Austin Television Festival, the 43-year-old explained that when the actors first began working together, she and Sam "were very similar in our personalities". 

Sam and Caitriona smiling at the camera at an Outlander premiere in 2022© Getty Images
Sam and Caitriona have often spoken about their real-life friendship

"We like to be very prepared and focused but then we like to have a lot of fun. We like to not take ourselves too seriously even though we take the work seriously," she said. 

"But as our lives have gotten more complicated and busy, we may not see each other as much as we used to, but that core and that friendship and that base that we have has never changed."

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