“Outlander”'s Graham McTavish Says New Film About Montana Rancher 'Is About Tolerance and Acceptance' (Exclusive)

Outlander's Graham McTavish is no stranger to sweeping landscapes.

The actor, 64, who's starring in the new indie film, Somewhere in Montana, says shooting in the Big Sky state felt very reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands in his homeland. "I'd never been there before; it's a truly beautiful state," he tells PEOPLE. "It was just stunning, stunning."

The actor was even more enamored with the locals he met. "They're so connected to the environment around them, the land and the nature," he says. "I love the way they live. It's a very simple, straightforward life."

In the film, written and directed by Brandon Smith, McTavish portrays rugged Montana cattle rancher, John Alexander, who's forced to lease his property to a movie production in order to stave off financial ruin. His conservative character clashes with the more liberal director (played by Matt Drago) and the two must find a way to resolve their differences.

"I just loved the story, really. I loved the relationship between the two main characters and how different they are," the actor explains. "They represent polar opposites, really, and I think it's a subject that's really worth exploring."

Set against the backdrop of Glacier National Park, the story "is about tolerance, acceptance of different points of view," McTavish adds. "I think it's important to celebrate that and to understand that people don't always agree and they can really quite passionately disagree, but it doesn't mean that you can't sit down and have a drink and help someone. I thought it was a very important message."

John "doesn't have anything to prove to anybody," McTavish says. "That kind of no-nonsense, exactly like my dad, just tell you like it is energy. And it's not that they're unafraid, that they don't feel fear. They're just very comfortable with who they are. So I found him such a fabulous character. I loved him."

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McTavish got to reprise another one of his beloved characters, Dougal MacKenzie, for season seven of the Starz hit series Outlander. "It's so strange. When we started that show, we really had no idea that it would be so popular," he says. "But there is truly not a day that goes by where it doesn't touch my life in some way. Somebody coming up to me or somebody asking me a question, it comes up a lot. And I'm very proud of it. I loved going back to be Dougal."

The actor will next be seen in the Starz series, Spartacus: House of Asher, playing a former gladiator who won his freedom in the arena. "He's a good guy, actually. He's a decent man. He's fair and loyal," McTavish says of the role. "So he's not duplicitous and manipulative and any of that sort of thing, but he's not shy of a fight. Yes, he gets into a few scraps, but it was great fun."

Plus, "I had a [long haired] wig," he says, laughing. "I'm constantly tossing my head. They had to tell me to stop."

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When he's not working or at home with his wife of one year, skincare brand co-founder Garance Doré, McTavish is spending time with his two daughters, Honor and Hope, whom he shares with ex-wife Gwen Isaac. The actor, who founded McTavish Spirits in Aug. 2023, most recently released a bourbon named after his daughters.

"I was very pleased, apparently it sold out," he says. "I'm slowly trying to expand in our retail side because we don't want to overstretch ourselves because it's been a very, very steep learning curve for me. But I've got a really great team that work with me who are actually really good at this sort of thing."

Fans of McTavish could even turn watching Spartacus along with his bourbon into a game. "For every person that [my character] kills, you have to drink," he jokes. "Some episodes will be easier than others."

Somewhere in Montana is now playing in select theaters with plans to expand in late February. Spartacus: House of Ashur premieres this fall on Starz.

Read the original article on People