Irish actor Caitriona Balfe has said that she prefers to keep her infant son out of the spotlight, saying becoming a mother has made her "really protective".
The Outlander star, who can next be seen in Kenneth Branagh's Oscar front-runner Belfast, kept the news of her pregnancy off social media until she and husband Tony McGill welcomed their son in August 2021.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, the 42-year-old star said of that decision: "I'm a very open person. It’s not like I was hiding my pregnancy.
"Everybody at work knew, all of my friends knew, anyone I came into contact with in my life knew.
"But in terms of putting that out there, I don’t see the value in that. I think there’s certain things that are nice to have for yourself."
Balfe has experienced a new level of fame and success through her role as Claire Fraser in the Starz historical drama series Outlander, but said there are challenges involved.
A cohort of fans of the show are obsessed with the idea that she is romantically involved with her co-star Sam Heughan in real life. Balfe said she was made aware that private investigators have been hired to prove that she is involved with the Scottish actor.
The scrutiny makes her more determined to keep her son out of the glare of the public eye.
"When you have a kid, you become really protective. I don't want those crazies - because that’s what they are - I just don’t want them talking about him," she explained.
"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."
Balfe will next be seen alongside Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench in Belfast, which is out in Irish cinemas on January 21.
