Inside Karen Pirie star Lauren Lyle's private life and career as ITV drama returns

Lauren Lyle is set to grace our screens once again as Karen Pirie in the second series of the ITV detective drama.

The 32-year-old actress is perhaps most recognised for her portrayal of Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in Outlander, where she stars alongside Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan.

Her acting repertoire also includes roles such as Jade Antoniak in BBC's Vigil, as well as parts in Netflix's Toxic Town and The Bombing on Pan Am 103.

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On the theatrical front, Lauren has shone in productions of The Crucible, Wuthering Heights, Consensual and Merchant of Venice.

She first made a name for herself on the West End after relocating to London at 19, which was swiftly followed by her television debut on BBC Three's BBC Comedy Feeds, in an episode titled Radges, reports the Express.

Subsequent appearances included a stint in Holby City, and a starring role opposite Sean Bean in the BBC drama Broken.

Her breakthrough role arrived in 2017 with Outlander, and the following year saw Lauren feature in the film adaptation of Fiona Shaw's novel Tell It to the Bees, alongside Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger.

In addition to her acting career, Lauren hosts a podcast, She's A Rec, where she engages guests in discussions about their favourite albums, films, books and influential female heroes.

Her portrayal of the intrepid young Scottish detective Karen Pirie earned her the accolades of Best Actress - Television and Favourite Scot on Screen at the 2023 Bafta Awards Scotland.

Lauren previously opened up to The Sunday Post about her journey to stardom, recalling her move to London where she lived with four strangers and juggled various odd jobs while chasing her dream.

She recounted: "I came to London to audition for drama schools and came close but didn't get in. I think I'd only been to London once before as a kid but didn't remember it."

Her passion was undeniable as she expressed: "I was so hungry for it, and being around other actors in this world was so thrilling and I knew this was what I wanted to do and the place to do it."

Despite having what she described as "deluded confidence" and a competitive nature, Lauren shared that she worked as a dog walker, handed out flyers, manned reception desks, and even sorted stock at Zara for months before landing transformative roles in Outlander and Broken, which both came her way within weeks of each other.

Reflecting on the tough times, she said: "It was bleak at times but I loved going to the theatre and seeing this life dangled in front of me. It was quite inspiring."

Away from the limelight, Lauren maintains a private life, with her social media accounts highlighting her career achievements and travel experiences.

In the 2023 interview with The Sunday Post, she did share a glimpse into her personal life, confirming her relationship status and revealing that her boyfriend joined her in celebrating the Baftas.

She divulged: "My parents are coming - my dad has a new velvet jacket to go with his tartan troos - as is my boyfriend, who is South-African-Australian, but we've recently discovered he has lots of Scottish heritage, so he might wear a kilt."

Karen Pirie season 2 will air on Sunday, July 20, with the first episode premiering at 8pm on ITV1