ForRose Byrne, being honored with theWomen in Film Max Mara Face of the Future award from its global brand ambassador Nicola Maramotti is incredible and also slightly ironic. “I think I’m sort of the middle-aged future, perhaps,” she jokes. Byrne is at a turning point in her career with comedy at the center.
She says she always wanted to try comedy, but did not get the chance to do so until her late 20s. “I’m still very new to it, so it’s actually far more challenging for me still,” says Byrne. “I’m going where it’s warm, as they say.”
More like heading where it’s hot. With major roles in comedies such as “Neighbors” and “Bridesmaids,” Byrne is now set to be seen in “This Is Where I Leave You,” alongside Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, and she is filming action-comedy “Spy” with Melissa McCarthy.
Popular on Variety
Cathy Schulman, head of WIF, says Byrne is “equally capable in specialized film and blockbusters. She’s really interested in playing women who have relevant roles, choices that make a difference, and is a longtime Unicef supporter.”
Byrne is big fan of TV and an avid watcher of “Girls.” She, herself, spent five years on the FX series “Damages” and says working with series star Glenn Close only made her better. “You have to work harder to keep up,” says Byrne.
Byrne is also putting her singing talents to the test in the upcoming Broadway musical remake “Annie,” with Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhane Wallis and Cameron Diaz. She says she had some experience singing as she played a pop star in “Get Him to the Greek,” but this was in a different league.
Working in this industry, there have been ups and downs, says Byrne. “It’s the nature of the game. You just gotta be aware of it.” But the one thing she would tell her younger self? “Get a better rental car when you’re in L.A. so you don’t end up at your auditions with your makeup melted down your face and your hair frizzy.”
More from Variety
Loading comments...
Most Popular
Must Read
- Music
COVER | ‘My Job Is to F—ing Sing’: Bad Bunny on the 'Pride, Pain and Love' Behind His Massive Puerto Rico Residency
By Andrew Wallenstein
- Film
How Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jaws’ Endured a Hellish Production to Become Hollywood’s First Summer Blockbuster
- TV
‘This Is Real Life’: How Bravo’s ‘The Valley’ Navigated Drug Addiction, a Violent Incident and a Cast Member in a Mental Health…
- Music
Barbra Streisand on Her New Album, Not Being Paid Enough for ‘Meet the Fockers’ and if She’ll Ever Direct or Perform Live Again
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to ourTerms of Use and ourPrivacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the GooglePrivacy Policy andTerms of Service apply.
Variety Confidential
A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast
