Rose Byrne

Michele Manelis talks to the actress about family, animals and Beatrix Potter

This movie is based on the book by Beatrix Potter. Were you a fan of the books?

I loved the books growing up. I was a really big Beatrix Potter fan, and also, I have a pet rabbit. So for me, I really related to Bea and her love for these animals, and I thought she was really an eccentric character. I thought the physical comedy potential of what we could do would be really kind of magical for the kids to see. And yeah, I hadn’t done anything quite like this before either. And of course, I was filming in Sydney, where I grew up, so that was great.

There are a lot of Aussies in the cast — including Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki — did you know them at all?

A little bit. It’s such a small business. I had done James Corden’s show before. I did a skit where we did The Lion King on the corner of Genesee and Beverly Boulevards. Me and Seth Rogen were dressed up as characters from The Lion King and we would go out and perform it in the middle of the street. That was a pretty bizarre experience. I just love that James is Peter Rabbit. He’s such a perfect match for it. He’s so cheeky and he has that mischievous quality about him.

Do you think animals communicate with each other?

Yes, I think they communicate in their own way. I feel like they do talk on their own to each other, definitely. Once you spend time with them, you sort of understand their language and what is so great about animals is the specific personality for each one. They really do have such distinct personalities. I can understand people who are strict vegans. I am not one myself, but I can see where that comes from.

Your house must be pretty chaotic with a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old?

Oh, piece of cake, nothing changes! No, you’re right. It’s pretty chaotic like anyone knows who’s in this position. You still have those sleepless nights and it’s harder to get out the door.

How is Bobby (actor husband Bobby Cannavale) as a dad?

Oh, he doesn’t believe in parenting! No. He’s a great guy.

Do you think differently about your own mum? You know, my mum raised four children. She never had any help. She had my father, obviously, but she didn’t have her own mother so I feel so lucky to have had a great support system. She’s a great listener. I think that’s a key thing as a parent that I can see that she gave us. She’s incredibly considerate and a very great listener which I think is important.

Are you a good listener? I hope so.

You’re an animal lover. Would you have fallen for someone who didn’t like animals?

I don’t know if it’s a deal-breaker but if they saw a dog and they kicked it, I’d be like, “You are out!” I am not down with that, kicking cats and stuff, no way. On the other hand, I have a friend who just lost her cockatoo and she is really upset. She is putting up posters around everywhere trying to find the cockatoo. But I am like, “That bird is out, girl. That bird is free.”

Would you like to write a book one day?

I think to write a book you have to find something that is obsessive in you. I’m not a great writer. There’s plenty of better things to read out there than something that I would have written. I would like my mother to write a book. She’s had an incredibly interesting life and along with all my sisters and my brother, we tell her to write a book. I’d love her to do it. I’d like to be her editor.

How do you feel at this point, about your career? Look, I’m as paranoid as the next actor about my career and what’s around the corner and what’s not around the corner. Things come your way, things don’t, and I try to navigate it as best I can. But overall, I feel very lucky.