Rose Byrne on her Oscar-nominated performance as an unraveling mother
#Rose Byrne#Oscar nomination#Golden Globe#If I Had Legs I'd Kick You#PBS NewsHour#CANVAS#psychological drama#acting career
📌 Key Takeaways
Rose Byrne discusses her first Oscar nomination for 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'
Byrne won a Golden Globe for Best Actress this award season
The interview took place in New York for PBS NewsHour's CANVAS series
Byrne has been acting professionally for over 30 years
The film features Byrne as a complex unraveling mother character
📖 Full Retelling
Rose Byrne, the acclaimed Australian actress known for her diverse roles in both drama and comedy, discussed her Oscar-nominated performance as an unraveling mother in the psychological drama 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' during a recent interview with PBS NewsHour's Jeffrey Brown in New York. The interview, part of the network's arts and culture series CANVAS, comes as Byrne celebrates her first-ever Academy Award nomination following a career spanning more than 30 years in the entertainment industry. Byrne, who has already won a Golden Globe for Best Actress this award season for the same role, opened up about the challenges and rewards of portraying such a complex character. In the conversation, Byrne reflected on her journey in the acting profession, which began when she was just a teenager in Australia, speaking about the evolution of her craft and the deliberate choices she has made throughout her career to balance commercial success with artistic fulfillment. The actress, who has appeared in both blockbuster films and independent productions, emphasized the importance of taking risks and seeking out roles that push her boundaries as an artist. 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You,' the film that has earned Byrne critical acclaim and award recognition, centers on a woman struggling with personal demons while trying to maintain her family, with Byrne detailing the preparation process for the emotionally demanding role, including extensive research and collaboration with the director to authentically portray the character's psychological unraveling.
🏷️ Themes
Acting craft, Award season, Character portrayal, Career longevity
PBS News Hour is an American daily evening television news program broadcast on over 350 PBS member stations since October 20, 1975. Previously stylized as PBS NewsHour, the nightly broadcast is known for its in-depth coverage of important issues and current events. The hourlong weekday editions hav...
Mary Rose Byrne (born 24 July 1979) is an Australian actress. Renowned for her versatility across film and television, Byrne is particularly recognized for her leading roles in blockbuster comedies, independent dramas, and horror films. Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spir...
The Golden Globes are awards presented for excellence in international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists, professionals, and their work. The ceremony is normally held every January, and has been a major part of the film industry's awards season, whi...
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements, as assessed by the Academy's voti...
Rose Byrne on her Oscar-nominated performance as an unraveling mother Feb 26, 2026 6:25 PM EST By — Jeffrey Brown Jeffrey Brown By — Anne Azzi Davenport Anne Azzi Davenport Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio Known for roles in both drama and comedy, Rose Byrne has already won a Golden Globe for Best Actress this award season for her role in the psychological drama "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You." She’s been acting professionally for more than 30 years, and now she’s up for her first Oscar. Jeffrey Brown joined her recently in New York for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. Listen to this Segment By — Jeffrey Brown Jeffrey Brown In his more than 30-year career with the News Hour, Brown has served as co-anchor, studio moderator, and field reporter on a wide range of national and international issues, with work taking him around the country and to many parts of the globe. As arts correspondent he has profiled many of the world's leading writers, musicians, actors and other artists. Among his signature works at the News Hour: a multi-year series, “Culture at Risk,” about threatened cultural heritage in the United States and abroad; the creation of the NewsHour’s online “Art Beat”; and hosting the monthly book club, “Now Read This,” a collaboration with The New York Times. By — Anne Azzi Davenport Anne Azzi Davenport Anne Azzi Davenport is the Senior Producer of CANVAS at PBS News Hour. @Annedavenport --> Support Provided By: Learn more More Ways to Watch PBS Video PBS App YouTube Facebook Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.