‘Outlander’ Star Sam Heughan Named Grand Marshall Of The 2016 New York Tartan Day Parade

Sam Heughan his ready to take his skills behind the camera to the streets of New York. The Outlander star is set to appear at the center of the city’s upcoming Tartan Day Parade, just as the second season of the hit series returns to television in April.

According to the Scotsman, Heughan is not only taking part in the event but has been named as the parade’s “Grand Marshal.” Heughan is one of many celebrities to have participated in the event, including Graham McTavish, who was appointed in the same role last year.

“As Grand Marshal of the New York Tartan Day parade 2016, I am honoured and proud to serve the city and its ancestral ties,” Heughan shared. “I love the city, the people and the vibe. Please join me in toasting all who live and visit there with a whisky and a toast.”

Heughan’s participation in the Tartan Parade coincides with his love for his home country of Scotland. In fact, during a recent interview with Scotsman, Heughan discussed his days as a youth at the Youth Theatre Arts Scotland and how the theatre inspired him to further hone his acting skills.

“Youth theatre isn’t just about a precocious child that wants to sing and dance in front of people,” he stated in the interview. “It’s for everyone; it’s about a community, it’s about being supported by your peer group. You learn skills, not just acting but all the other sides – working in the TV, film and theatre industry.”

Sam Heughan went on to describe how his time in theater helped to establish him in the Scottish film industry. During this pivotal time in his career, Heughan learned valuable skills that he used to land roles in Hollywood.

“I quickly got to learn who was involved in the Scottish industry, who was running what theatre and it gave me an understanding of the business. It gave me the skills as well like how to be in a main stage show,” Heughan told the outlet. “How to work on my voice or how to prepare for a role – just little things you learn, but when I got to drama school I felt that I was well prepared for that world.”

In helping to promote Scotland culture and values, Heughan hopes to inspire other Scottish youths to get involved in theater. This is partly why Heughan was chosen to lead the Tartan parade, along with his role as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, of course.

“I think that what I’d like to instill is that if you join the youth theatre, it’s a gateway into greater career prospects,” Heughan added. “Scotland is flourishing in the film and TV sector. I know quite a few big productions that are going to be coming here and I think if we get young people involved in the sector, it’s going to pay dividends in the future.”

Heughan’s appearance at the stage will arrive just in time for the premiere of the second season of Outlander. The new season will see Jamie and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) travel to Paris and take on the political scene of 17th-century France.

While the traditional Scottish garb, including Heughan’s Tartan kilt, will not be featured prominently in the season, the couple will return to Scotland at some point in the season. When they do go back to his home country, fans can expect Heughan to sport his kilt once more, much like he’ll probably be doing at the upcoming Tartan Day Parade in New York City.

The second season of Outlander is set to premiere April 9 on Starz.

Tell us! What do you think of Sam Heughan as the choice for Grand Marshall of the New York Tartan Day parade? Let us know in the comments, and check out the latest trailer for Season 2 of Outlander below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3VtNOjrqeQ

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]