A Journey Through Places, People, and Purpose
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Photography & Styling & Words by Dio Anthony Grooming by Valissa Yoe
Charles Vandervaart on Travel, Growth, and Belonging.
Charles Vandervaart moves through the world with a rare blend of curiosity, humility, and quiet wisdom. Whether he’s traveling for work, immersing himself in history on the set of Outlander, or rediscovering the comforts of home, he brings a deep sense of appreciation to every experience. In an industry often defined by transience, he understands the fleeting nature of his industry, yet he embraces the connections he makes along the way—turning castmates into family and unfamiliar places into second homes. His journey is one of collecting moments, learning from each experience, and leaving a piece of himself behind wherever he goes. From the hockey culture of his small Canadian town to the vast, open Highlands of Scotland, Vandervaart has learned that what truly matters isn’t just where you are, but who you share it with. In an ever-changing world and an ever-moving life, he finds meaning in the connections he makes—because, to him, life is a bothy.
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Anthony: Okay, so Good morning! How are you?
Charles Vandervaart: Good morning! Yeah, I'm really good. How are you doing?
Anthony: I'm doing good, sipping on some warm water to keep warm.
Vandervaart: Oh, really?
Anthony: Yeah. It’s not exactly tea, but it serves the same purpose, [laughs]. So,I thought why not frame this interview around the idea of–what we can learn from each other. I feel like there's always something you can learn from someone else, and I thought it would be a good way to go about this. Is there something in particular that you learned last year that you've brought into this year with you? A lesson that you’re carrying forward?
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Vandervaart: Wow, that's a great point. The first thing that comes to mind is that I did an unbelievable amount of traveling last year, and I'm extremely grateful for it. It started with Australia for a convention, then Paris, Kansas City, Birmingham, and then back home here in Canada. I also lived in Scotland for eight months filming Season 8 of Outlander. I'm so eternally grateful for all the traveling, but it made me realize how important a homestead is. After all that, all I wanted to do was go home. I remember being in Europe, and this is, of course, such a privileged position to be in—to travel to all these beautiful places for work. But when the show ended, and I had a chance to dart around Europe, I just immediately wanted to go home. Once you're away from the really important things in life, you start to realize how much you crave them. I wanted to spend time with my family and close friends who really know me at my core. When life gets fast, you start to crave the slower, domestic things, which are often the things you take for granted. I’d never really felt like that before, because I was always around my family and friends who knew me inside and out. After being away for so long, it was such a treat to come back home and be with the people I’ve always known.
“Once you’re away from the really important things in life, you start to realize how much you crave them.”
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Anthony: That’s such a beautiful sentiment. Was there any specific trip or place that stood out to you while you were traveling?
Vandervaart: Every time I go to Glasgow, that’s the one place where I really feel like people know me. I have a few friends there and last time I was there, we all got together for game nights most weeks. We usually played this really nerdy card game called Magic: The Gathering, which is a bit role-playing and, you know, we all nerd out on it together. I always feel seen in that group. Whenever I travel, it's rarely the place itself that stands out so much—it’s always the people. Glasgow’s slogan is "People Make Glasgow," and it’s so true. It’s a running joke because, you know, there’s not much else there, but the people are just lovely. Especially the little community there.
“What truly makes a place special isn’t just the landscape—it’s the people.”
Anthony: That’s a great slogan! I feel like you don’t always get to know the slogans of the places you visit. I traveled a lot last year too, and I couldn’t tell you what the slogans are for each place I went. Now I feel like I should look into that, because they usually do say something about the place, right?
Vandervaart: Totally! My hometown’s slogan was "Historic Charm, Dynamic Future." It didn’t really mean much to me—it was like, “Yeah, there’s a past, and there’s a future…”
Anthony: That’s such a textbook slogan.
Vandervaart: Exactly.
Anthony: I’m wondering—what’s something you’ve come to know about history while filming the series that you probably weren’t aware of before?
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Vandervaart: As a Canadian, we do learn a bit about American history, especially the Revolutionary War, but my knowledge was pretty limited. It was cool to gain a deeper appreciation for that history because, as much as it’s American history, it’s also Canadian history. It’s North American history. That was the war that determined what Canada and the U.S. would become. Filming those scenes where I witnessed these battles firsthand, and seeing how they were brought to life with such a massive budget and scale, made it so real. The production team is so talented. You’d be immersed in the battle, and even when you saw the camera, it felt like you were right there. It was all very grandiose and a very potent way to learn about the Revolutionary War—the good and the bad. There’s a lot of bad in war, and that was showcased in the series too. There were all these little bits of knowledge that I’ll have with me forever. Little things, like the golden plate that soldiers wore on their necks, which was called a gorget. In the medieval times, soldiers wore these huge breastplates to protect themselves against swords and arrows, it was extremely essential. Then firepower and guns made breastplates obsolete, so they shrunk it down into this tiny embellishment that soldiers wore as a tribute. That was something I always wondered about. I thought that was really interesting! I was trying to steal mine off my costume, but no dice, couldn't get it.
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Anthony: That’s such a cool little historical tidbit! And the costumes and set design are so immersive—I bet it really helps you feel like you’re living in that time period.
Vandervaart: Exactly. The costumes are so well made that you can’t help but feel like you’re from the 1700s. They draw out a certain version of yourself. I learned that standing and sitting were considered arts at that time. If you were a lord or came from money, even the way you sat or stood was meant to show control and authority. Wearing that costume, it really draws that out of you, so it became a lot easier than just wearing, you know, the sweat pants or whatever that I'm wearing today. With the costumes, you naturally adopt that posture.
Anthony: That’s fascinating. I bet it’s a relief to get back to wearing sweatpants after all of that.
Vandervaart: Honestly? Yeah. Throwing a pair of jeans on just felt so easy. As much as I miss my red coat, it’s so nice to wear something that doesn’t force me to have perfect posture all the time. I love slouching in my sweat pants.
Anthony: I can imagine! Something I also think about it the training when it comes to rhythm of voice. I love old films and even when watching something as contemporary as a film from the 80s, the people speak differently. There’s just a different cadence. You can oftentimes tell that it’s from a different time by just listening–without even seeing a visual of the clothing or hair or anything like that. Did you train to get that 1700s accent down?
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Vandervaart: Yeah, I worked a lot with Carol Ann Crawford, our dialect coach. I did a lot of work with her. And you’re right, it’s so interesting to see the evolution when you’re watching television and how dialects change, and also how acting styles change too. Caroline was a massive help, because she’s very well studied, and knows all the right stuff. The accent we used was called the RP accent, which is this general broad accent. It’s the accent you’d learn if you were being taught English in England. It’s not regional, which is super interesting to me, because there are so many regional accents in England. It’s not as fancy as the Queen’s accent. But it’s supposed to give this upper-class feel. There’s this thing called ‘Clipping” for example, where you clip your words, to add more impact and to make it feel more upper class. It wasn’t something I did, but other characters in the show do.
Anthony: I love that..
Vandervaart: Yeah, there’s all these different terms that I’m definitely no expert in. I didn’t realize how diverse British accents were until I started preparing for the role. When I first auditioned, I thought a Birmingham accent was just the standard English accent. I’d been watching Peaky Blinders with that accent, but obviously, it’s very different from the 1700s RP accent. I kind of cringe when I think back at my audition now, [laughs]. But it worked out in the end, so I’m happy.
Anthony: That's brilliant. I'm obsessed with those little nuances. It’s really cool to learn about. Is there a movie you could watch over and over again without growing tired of it?
“It’s so nice to wear something that doesn’t force me to have perfect posture all the time. I love slouching in my sweatpants.”
Vandervaart: Ooh, that is a good question. There are probably a few. I know this is such a funny one—every time someone asks about your favorite movie or anything, every single movie immediately leaves my brain. Of course, the first one I'm thinking about might not be my favorite movie overall, but it was definitely my favorite movie in high school. I think this was my coming-of-age film. A “Whoa—this movie is so profound” moment. It was Into the Wild. I was completely obsessed with the story of gaining absolute freedom. It follows a young kid—someone I could probably see myself in at the time—who leaves society behind, lives out on the road, and eventually finds himself alone in Alaska, living off the land. No spoilers, but it doesn't end super well for him. He eventually realizes that abandoning everyone in his life and pursuing solitary freedom wasn't worth it without companionship, love, and people around him. I always thought that was so profound. The movie is very slow and long—about two hours and 45 minutes—but I remember in high school watching it more than once a day. Plus, the soundtrack is amazing; it features Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, playing the ukulele throughout the film. It’s a really fantastic movie.
Anthony: I know that’s a somewhat well known movie, but I’ve yet to see it. But now I have to.
Vandervaart: I really like it, and now I have to revisit it. I watched it somewhat recently, and some parts are just so heartbreaking. It's a very sad movie—also very happy and sad—but it's definitely changed in my mind over the course of my life. It's a very different movie now than it was when I was a naive, wide-eyed boy who just wanted to hit the road, travel, and experience the world. I kind of like that you never watch the same movie twice; even the same movie feels different each time because you bring new context and wisdom.
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Anthony: I love that perspective. Is there something in your daily routine that you can’t go without doing?
Vandervaart: Honestly, coffee is a must for me. I’ve tried to quit, but I love the routine of making a cozy drink every morning. I make a little mocha with chocolate milk instead of regular milk. Even just a drip coffee, but it has to be sweet and yummy. I used to drink black coffee, but now I prefer it sweeter. I don't know who that guy was. Now I crave a creamy sweet treat. I also have to get some movement each day—whether it’s rock climbing, hitting the gym, or running in the summer. I’m trying to get back into skiing now that I’m in Canada—it’s cheap and fun! Any kind of movement that's what I can't live without.
Anthony: At the beginning of our interview you talked about the slogan for your hometown of Orangeville, just north of Toronto. What’s a quintessential thing from Orangeville or Toronto?
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Vandervaart: The quintessential Orangeville experience would be playing hockey in any capacity. I remember when I was in Glasgow, where there’s a hockey team made up mostly of Canadians, which is funny. I went for a free skate with my friends there during the winter and it was pretty good—because, you know, I’m from Canada. Everyone was impressed, saying, “Wow, you’re amazing! Are you a good hockey player?” I explained that I’m a good hockey player pretty much anywhere in the world—except in Orangeville. There, everyone plays hockey, and they take it very seriously. So, in my hometown, I suck at hockey, but anywhere else, I seem great just because the culture in Orangeville is so intense.
It almost feels satirical—like a Canadian stereotype—but that town is truly a hockey town. I can’t quite keep up with my friends who still live there and play regularly. I played almost every day growing up. I attended hockey training camps every winter for months at a time, spending hours on the ice each week. After school, I’d play pond hockey, and if the ponds weren’t frozen yet, I’d play in the street. There’s just an incredible level of dedication to the sport—it’s such a big part of our culture. It’s so interesting. As for Toronto.. I don’t know, I kind of want to say Drake? [laughs].
Anthony: Yes! Degrassi! [laughs]. You’ve been able to spend long stretches of time in other places because of work. Having spent so much time in Scotland, what have you learned to appreciate about a place so far from home?
Vandervaart: Yeah, I think that’s just the nature of this industry. I’ve been very lucky to work on shows that lasted a long time. I got to spend half a year in British Columbia, and I worked on shows in Toronto for years, really building a family there. This was my first time going overseas to Europe for a show, and I was there from start to finish—close to three years, which feels absolutely crazy. I was quite homesick at first, but like you said, all of a sudden, you start to develop a family, a community, and it begins to feel like home. And it did for me—it felt very close to home.
But the grass is always greener. When I was in Scotland, I missed my friends in Canada. Now that I’m back in Canada, I miss my friends in Glasgow. It’s a really magical place, and I think I’ll always consider it a second home. That’s one of the beautiful things about this industry—no matter where you go, even though you have to say goodbye, there’s a high chance you’ll know someone in a major city somewhere in the world. You work with people from all over, and over time, you build this global network. It’s something really cool.
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Vandervaart (Continued): Speaking of Scotland, I have to mention something that really defines it for me—bothies. In Scotland, bothies are these tiny stone farmhouses, built hundreds of years ago, that aren’t owned by anyone. You don’t have to book them; you can just go. They’re places to stay in the Highlands, completely open to travelers. I wouldn’t recommend going alone—maybe in a group of four—because since they aren’t reserved, anyone who shows up that night stays there. You might end up with just your friends, or maybe another group arrives, and you all share the bothy. It’s such an interesting, communal experience—no ownership, just a shared space in the middle of a breathtaking landscape.
Many bothies are nestled by stunning rivers with massive mountains in the background, and there’s a tradition tied to them. The person before you leaves something special behind—something meaningful to them. So, if I were visiting from Canada, maybe I’d leave a small bottle of maple syrup. In return, I’d take whatever gift was left by the last traveler. It’s such a beautiful, timeless tradition. These structures have lasted for hundreds of years, and despite being entrusted to strangers every night, they remain standing, thriving. There’s something really special about that—a quiet, unspoken connection between people who may never meet but still share something in that space.
Anthony: That’s beautiful because, on paper, something like that just wouldn’t work in a place like the States—it’s too overpopulated, and the mindset in big cities is different. It’s not a perfect comparison, but when I was in Japan a few months ago, I noticed how incredibly clean the public bathrooms were—cleaner than some private homes I’ve been in.
It made me think about how, back in the ’50s, public bathrooms in subways were common and just a normal part of city life. But now, most of them are locked up and unused. I always wonder—why did that change? Would it be unsafe now? Unsanitary? Something like what you just described wouldn’t really exist here anymore. So it’s nice to know that places like that still do.
Vandervaart: Yeah, I guess that’s the thing about the Highlands—it’s wild how empty they feel. On a map, Scotland looks so small compared to Canada or the States, but when you're up there, it’s just vast, open land with nothing but you and some sheep.
It’s a shame that places like that aren’t more common, but maybe that’s what makes Scotland so special. In a way, it feels like a metaphor for working on a show in another country. You take a piece of the people you were with, carry it with you, and hopefully leave something behind for those you’ve impacted. Life is a bothy.