Exclusive: Caitríona Balfe reveals what was "amazing" about new drama with Tom Hiddleston

Caitríona Balfe has recalled the experience of filming Tenzing, the upcoming biographical drama starring Tom Hiddleston and Genden Phuntsok. After premiering in September, the film is due to stream on Apple TV later this month.

The drama sees Hiddleston portray Sir Edmund Hillary, an explorer who strives to climb Mount Everest in 1953. To achieve his mission, he enlists the help of local mountaineer Tenzing Norgay (Phuntsok).

Directed by Jennifer Peedom from a screenplay by Luke Davies, the stellar supporting cast for the eagerly awaited film includes Willem Dafoe, Thinley Lhamo and Balfe, with the latter playing Jill Henderson.

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Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy at the London Gala Screening, Balfe shared that she had been fascinated by the story ever since she first heard about it at school, with a trip to Nepal only furthering that interest.

"In school, I remember learning about Hillary and that he was the first person to ascend [Everest], and that he had a Sherpa who accompanied him," she recalled. "I had gone to Nepal when I was 20 and trekked around, so I'd learned a little bit more about Tenzing."

"But so much of the fullness of his life, that we learned through this film, I didn't know. So it was really amazing to get the full story. It's amazing to see Tenzing getting his rightful place in history now," she added.

It's a busy period for Balfe, with the Irish actor having just completed the final season of Outlander after 12 years in the role of Claire Fraser. Coincidentally, her next film project, A Long Winter, is also set in a snowy mountain range.

"My first job after Outlander was Tenzing, and then my last one that year was A Long Winter, and we were in the Canadian Rockies. [It's been a] very mountainous year for some reason," she noted.

Related: Exclusive: Tom Hiddleston had a unique way to bond the cast on new drama Tenzing

Speaking about the response to the conclusion of Outlander, Balfe shared: "There [were] many reactions, and some of them were justified. But I am so proud of that show and I'm so proud of all the work we did.

"I'd taken six months after we wrapped and this was the first film that I did afterwards, which felt like a little gift to get to go and experience this beautiful world. I'm so proud of all of Outlander, but I'm really excited about all the stuff that has been happening since."

Tenzing will stream on Apple TV from 16 October.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
 

Freelance film & TV writer, Digital Spy
Critic and writer Jo Berry has been writing about TV and movies since she began her career at Time Out aged 18. A regular on BBC Radio, Jo has written for titles including Empire, Maxim, Radio Times, OK!, The Guardian and Grazia, is the author of books including Chick Flicks and The Parents’ Guide to Kids’ Movies. 

She is also the editor of website Movies4Kids. In her career, Jo has interviewed well-known names including Beyonce, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kiefer Sutherland, Tom Cruise and all the Avengers, spent many an hour crushed in the press areas of award show red carpets. Jo is also a self-proclaimed expert on Outlander and Brassic, and completely agrees that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.