From a comedy like Get Him to The Greek, to the sci-fi flick Knowing, to Damages [the award-winning courtroom legal series in which Byrne stars in, alongside Glenn Close], you’ve built quite an impressive resume since leaving home Down Under and heading to the bright lights of Hollywood.
“Doing as many different kinds of movies and television shows as possible has always been my career goal. I’ve always felt that if I tried acting in many different kinds of genres, it would make me a well-rounded actress. And it has. I think I’m a better actress for having taken chances in movies like Troy, Get Him To The Greek and Adam. They taught me a lot of things.
So you don’t really have a preference in the kind of movies you like to do?
“I just like diversity, period. Anything. Big films, little films, TV shows, anything, I just love the diversity. That’s what is attractive to me.”
When you work with on a project and your co-star is considered a Hollywood A-list actor like Glenn Close (Damages) or Brad Pitt (Troy) or Nicolas Cage (Knowing), do you ever use your time with them as a learning experience? Do you find yourself asking advice and picking up little acting dos and don’ts that you might be able to use later down the line?
“Yeah, absolutely. I think that I am a very observant person, that’s the way I like to think of myself, so I definitely watch how they work and ask them questions. People like Glenn, Nic, Brad Pitt or some of the huge actors that I’ve worked with are incredibly hard workers and they don’t just show up unprepared. They are all determined to make it as good as they can. And I think that when something is resting on you as well, that’s a lot of pressure, too. They all have to be extremely determined, diligent and dedicated to their work.”
Although you are from Australia, you have done quite a number of American roles. What is it like playing an American in most of your movies?
“Well, most people think I’m American. They’ll be like (in a heavy NYC accent) ‘You’re from England? Oh God!’ And when I say I’m from Australia, they can’t believe it.”
Throughout so many of your films and TV series, you’ve worked with some really handsome leading men.
“I have! I know.” (laughs)
Has it been coincidence, or was this planned?
“Who knows? (laughs) This guy, Timothy Olyphant, was on the second season of Damages, and he’s pretty gorgeous. Yeah. He’s probably up there!” (laughs)
When you meet people, do you try to find out interesting things about them beyond just their looks?
“Well, yeah. It doesn’t really matter what someone looks like. If you can’t have a conversation with them, that’s going to be pretty boring! And I’m fairly good at that. You know, I’m naturally curious about people and not…intimidating!”
What would you say is one of your biggest flaws?
“I think maybe I ask too many questions, sometimes. So I’m trying to pull back on that. I should have been a journalist!”
Part of the storyline of Adam has to do with dating your neighbour. Did you ever date a next door neighbour?
“Hmm, a cute neighbour…I’m trying to think about it. God, I wish I had more of a technique for that! Um, I’m trying to think if I ever had a hot neighbour. I’m usually shy. Like I’ll go to the other side of the room and not talk to anybody, like an idiot! I’m not sophisticated in that way at all. Yeah, I’m totally pathetic.” (laughs)
You’ve done blockbusters and indies. What’s different about being in a low budget movie, aside from the food being terrible?
“Ha! (laughs) Well, I suppose we do it for the love of it. Nobody’s there for the money or the pampering, or whatever. They’re there for the role. So everybody’s really passionate about it. But unlike when you’re on a really big set, and with thousands of extras, at the end of the day it’s really just you and the other actors, the director and the script. And you take away everything else. But hopefully you bring the same dedication to what you’re doing, no matter what the context is.”
Did you enjoy doing comedies like Get Him To The Greek?
“I did, I loved it. I’d love to do more comedy.”
Do you find it ironic that you are in two films (Knowing and Sunshine) where humanity is in danger of total extinction? Does it make you nervous?
(Laughs) “I don’t know, maybe someone is trying to send me messages or something.”
Does it make you want to start studying the scientific aspects of the so-called apocalypse?
“I’m actually not a scientific person at all. I was always the English major and I’m actually more of a right side – or is it the left side – part of the brain sort of person. The more artistic-minded.”
How has the success of Damages affected your life? Are you starting to do more film scripts and be offered better roles for women?
“I found that when you do a show like Damages, you are in such a bubble of things, that you don’t really know how it is being seen by the industry. But Season 3 is finished, and I have been out in Los Angeles, and the feedback has been incredible, especially within the industry. It’s a very popular show amongst the industry, especially with women — they love it, the relationship between Patti (Glenn Close) and Ellen (Byrne). So, it has been a huge platform for me, definitely. And, it exposes you in a different way. But it’s cable still, so we have a very small viewership, but I think it is a good, strong base and foundation for me.”
Where does your passion and energy for acting come from?
“I guess I have yet to find anything that is as fulfilling as a career. Yeah, I definitely have my moments. You have to have a thick skin because you get rejected on a daily basis. But at the same time, you have to remain very sensitive so that you can access all of yourself for your roles on TV or the screen. I‘ve just always been drawn back to it. I have been acting in Australia since I was thirteen, so I have been doing it for over half my life.”
