Rose Byrne

Mary Rose Byrne is an Australian actress born on July 24, 1979. Recognized for her versatility across screen and stage, she has appeared in blockbuster comedies, independent dramas, and horror films. Her career accolades include a Golden Globe Award, National Board of Review Award, New York Film Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, Independent Spirit Award, Silver Bear, and Volpi Cup. She has also received nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA, Actor Award, National Society of Film Critics Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, making her one of the few actors nominated for the Triple Crown of Acting.

Byrne was born in the Sydney suburb of Balmain and is the youngest of four children born to Jane and Robin Byrne, with an older brother named George and two older sisters, Lucy and Alice. She has Irish and Scottish ancestry. She attended Balmain Public School, Hunters Hill High School, Bradfield Senior College, and joined the Australian Theatre for Young People at age eight. After auditioning unsuccessfully for several major Australian drama schools, she pursued an arts degree at Sydney University and later studied acting at the Atlantic Theater Company in 1999.

Byrne made her screen debut in the 1994 film Dallas Doll at age 15 and appeared in Australian television shows including Echo Point and Wildside. Her first leading film role came in The Goddess of 1967 (2000), which earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 57th Venice International Film Festival. She went on to appear in stage productions such as La Dispute and Three Sisters, made a brief appearance in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and acted in Hollywood releases including City of Ghosts (2002), I Capture the Castle (2003), The Rage in Placid Lake (2003), Troy (2004), Wicker Park (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006), and The Dead Girl (2006).

In 2007, Byrne took on roles in sci-fi thrillers Sunshine and 28 Weeks Later, and began starring as Ellen Parsons in the legal thriller series Damages (2007–2012). Her work on Damages earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations. Seeking a shift toward comedy, she starred as a pop star in Get Him to the Greek (2010), which marked a major step in establishing her as a comedic actress.

The year 2011 served as a career turning point with prominent roles in the horror film Insidious, the hit comedy Bridesmaids, and the superhero film X-Men: First Class. She subsequently reprised her role in the Insidious franchise and returned as CIA agent Moira MacTaggert in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016). Her comedic and dramatic film work expanded with roles in The Place Beyond the Pines (2013), The Internship (2013), Neighbors (2014) and its 2016 sequel, Annie (2014), Spy (2015), The Meddler (2015), Instant Family (2018), and Peter Rabbit (2018) alongside its 2021 sequel.

On television, Byrne portrayed Gloria Steinem in the miniseries Mrs. America (2020) and took leading roles in the series Physical (2021–2023) and Platonic (2023–present). On stage, she performed on Broadway in You Can't Take It With You (2014–2015) and Fallen Angels (2026), receiving a Tony Award nomination for the latter. For her performance in the psychological drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025), she won a Silver Bear and a Golden Globe Award, while also earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.