The Woman
Rose was the youngest of four children growing up in Sydney, Australia. She took an interest in acting at a very young age and was a part of the Australian Theatre for Young People at age 8. She made her film debut in 1994′s Dallas Doll, which starred Sandra Bernhard. After appearing on several Australian TV shows, such as Heartbreak High, Byrne starred opposite Heath Ledger in Two Hands (1999).
She was soon introduced to international film audiences with a small role in George Lucas’s Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), and shortly thereafter she landed a part in the big-budget epic Troy (2004) starring Brad Pitt. She has stated that still to this day, 90% of her fan mail centers around Star Wars related questions.
After establishing herself as a dramatic actress during a five-season stint on the underrated FX legal thriller, Damages, Rose Byrne remade herself as a comedic powerhouse. It all began with her winning turn in Bridesmaids, playing the perfect Helen. She then took those comedic chops alongside fellow comedian Seth Rogan in Neighbors. The follow up, Neighbors 2 hits theaters this week.
She has also dabbled in the world of comic book adaptations. In 2011, she played Moira Mactaggert, a geneticist and expert in mutant affairs, the film X-Men: First Class. She reprises her role in X-Men: Apocalypse, which hits the theaters later this month.
In 2012, Byrne began dating actor Bobby Cannavale. Cannavale confirmed their relationship at the 2013 Emmy Awards ceremony during his acceptance speech for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award, saying “And I want to thank the love of my life, Rose [Byrne].” In October 2015, it was announced that Byrne and Cannavale were expecting their first child.On February 1, 2016, they welcomed a son named Rocco Robin.
Her Cause
Byrne has supported UNICEF Australia by being the face of the 2007 Designers United campaign and a member of Tropfest jury in 2006. She is a graduate and ambassador for NIDA’s (National Institute of Dramatic Art) Young Actors Studio.
Rose did a campaign in conjunction with The White House called “It’s On Us,” about ending sexual assaults on campuses across America.
