While Caitríona Balfe is best known for portraying nurse Claire Fraser on Outlander, off-screen the acclaimed actress is also a devoted mom.

Balfe and her husband, Irish music producer Tony McGill, welcomed their first child together in 2021. Since then, the actress has spoken about balancing work and motherhood, while managing to also keep much of her son’s life out of the public eye.

Though Balfe keeps her son away from the spotlight, he has crossed paths with her coworkers. In a conversation with Sam Heughan for Extra, the actress spoke about being pregnant on set and eventually introducing her son to Heughan.

“He wasn’t impressed with me,” Heughan joked. Balfe laughed, adding that she also introduced her little one to Tobias Menzies and Sophie Skelton.

From sharing his birth announcement to her thoughts on protecting him from fans, here’s everything Balfe has said about her young son.

He was born in 2021

Catriona Balfe with her baby boy in 2021.Catriona Balfe/Instagram

Balfe revealed in August 2021 that she and husband McGill had quietly welcomed their first child together.

The actress announced the news on Instagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of her newborn’s tiny hand gripping hers.

“I’ve been off socials for a while as I was taking some time to enjoy cooking this little human,” she wrote. “We are so grateful for this little soul.”

Balfe continued, writing, “I’m in awe of him already and can’t help stare and wonder at all the possibilities of who he will become, where he will go and what he’ll do on the big adventure of his life.”

Balfe did not share her son’s name or exact birth date, opting to keep details about him and his birth private.

Balfe’s husband celebrated the birth with a push present

Tony McGill and Caitriona Balfe attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020.Kevork Djansezian/Getty

In a 2026 interview for Only Natural Diamonds, Balfe spoke about her most sentimental jewelry, including the “push bling” her husband gave her after she birthed their son in 2021.

“I have my push bling, which is such an American concept that I was very happy to bring to the U.K.,” Balfe said of the modern tradition of giving your partner a gift after they give birth. “I got a beautiful engagement, eternity band for that and some gorgeous earrings over the years and different things.”

Balfe used the birth announcement to promote global organizations supporting children

Caitriona Balfe attends “The Amateur” European Premiere.Karwai Tang/WireImage

When Balfe announced her son’s arrival, she also used the moment to spotlight organizations supporting children around the world.

In her Instagram post, the actress encouraged followers to learn more about groups helping families in need, including organizations including UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency, World Child Cancer and Choose Love, which provide education, healthcare and humanitarian aid to children globally.

She added that becoming a parent deepened her awareness of how vulnerable many children are and reinforced her desire to support those causes.

“Right now he seems so small and fragile and I constantly think how grateful I am that I live in a place, in a time where he is born into peace and safety and yet at the same time I see so many in the world right now that aren’t afforded that same privilege and opportunity,” Balfe wrote.

Balfe keeps him out of the public eye

Caitriona Balfe (L) and Tony McGill attend The BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party.Kevork Djansezian/BAFTA LA/Getty

From the beginning, Balfe has been intentional about protecting her son’s privacy.

In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, the actress explained that she prefers not to share photos or identifying details about him publicly.

“When you have a kid, you become really protective,” she said. “I don’t want those crazies — because that’s what they are — I just don’t want them talking about him.”

Balfe acknowledged that the vast majority of fans are supportive but said the small number of negative voices makes her cautious.

“It’s sad, because you meet the loveliest people who are fans of the show and they’re super supportive and they do the nicest things — and then you have that little thing, which just taints it,” she added.

Balfe has spoken candidly about being a working mom

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan on Season 1 of Outlander.Nick Briggs/Starz

Balfe has also opened up about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her career.

The actress has said that returning to work after having her son came with new logistical and emotional adjustments, particularly while filming the physically demanding Outlander series. “It’s hard. I’m usually gone before he wakes up in the morning,” the actress explained at the AXT TV Festival in 2023.

Balfe revealed, “Going into this year, because my son was so young, I asked if we could go to a four-day week for me.” She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue acting while raising her child and for the crew’s flexibility.

“That was something they were very considerate, they managed to work out and they scheduled it that way,” Balfe explained. “So I either work, Monday to Thursday usually or Tuesday to Friday, and that way I have a nanny four days a week so she covers when I’m at work.”