Rose Byrne and her bangs (which I don’t hate) cover the latest issue of Shape to promote her AppleTV+ series, Physical. She plays “an unhappy 1980s housewife who discovers aerobics, uses it as a path to power, and becomes a wellness guru.” A proto-Goop, perhaps. Rose is incredibly talented, so I’m interested in seeing what she does with this. It feels like most people don’t even realize that she’s Australian too – she lives in New York and LA with her partner Bobby Cannavale and their two sons, and she works so consistently in American films and TV (often doing an American accent). Since interviews with Rose are few and far between, I enjoyed this piece. She comes across as really down-to-earth. Some highlights:
She started crafting cocktails in quarantine. “I got into being an artisanal cocktail waitress. But I’m really slow at it. For me, it’s time consuming and labor intensive. My husband [actor Bobby Cannavale] will be like, ‘I’ve been waiting for 25 minutes.'”
Keeping fit: “Exercise is a juggling thing with small kids. I’ve been taking a lot of long walks and hikes. All that cliché stuff. And doing yoga, which I started when I was 15 and rediscovered during quarantine. I try to do it every day for 15 to 20 minutes. It’s a great way to quiet the mind. I have gone through stages where I’ve had trainers. I really enjoy doing strength training when I have the time to work with someone. When I’m back home in Australia, I love to swim. There, we have great 50-meter Olympic-size swimming pools that are often fresh water. I’m a big swimmer. I do notice that now as I’m getting older, it takes a little longer to get my fitness back. But exercise does help you feel better. It’s a great stress reliever.”
Early to bed: “I’m really good at the sleep thing. I’m not particularly a night owl, so I’m in bed early. I try to get seven to eight hours. I always drink warm water with lemon first thing in the morning. I’ve done that for 20 years. Overall, I drink a lot of water all day. I just got one of those ridiculous gallon water bottles that I carry around. I’ve been apologizing to everyone for just how obnoxious it is.
Sunscreen forever: “When I was growing up in Australia, ‘Stay out of the sun’ was drummed into us from an early age. They told us, ‘Wear sunscreen, wear a hat, wear sunglasses. Otherwise, you’re going to get skin cancer. You have to protect yourself. There’s a hole in the ozone layer. The sun’s rays are really harsh, even if it’s overcast.’ That was absolutely drilled into me, as it is any Aussie kid, and I do it.
Eating habits: “I certainly believe a little bit of everything is good, and I let myself have it. Everything in moderation. I enjoy food, so I don’t want to deprive myself of anything I really like. My all-time favorite food is spaghetti Bolognese. Also, my mom does a really great spinach pie. And I love Mexican food — oh, my gosh! I love all of it: chips, guacamole, margaritas. I could eat that all the time.”
Mom guilt: “Motherhood is such a profound change — from the physical experience of it to raising the kids. It’s so different for everybody, and I think it’s really hard for women to talk about it. There’s so much expectation and shame around it; it’s very complicated. But it’s also the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. It did change my career ambition. It streamlined things in a clear way. But there’s the struggle of trying to prioritize both: Am I doing enough at home at the moment? Am I staying fulfilled at work? The balance of work and home life is such a personal experience. I don’t judge anyone.”
She carries around a gallon water bottle and drinks throughout the day? I mean… I drink a lot of water (and zero-cal tea and diet soda) but the most I ever bring with me is a 20-ounce bottle. I’ve seen guys at the gym who carry around one-gallon jugs of water or sports drink though. But… that’s at the gym! And she’s another one who drinks warm water and lemon as soon as they get up. Why did no one tell me that when I was younger? I hear about people doing that all the time now, they swear by it. Anyway, yeah, she comes across as very normal. Maybe that’s the Aussie in her or maybe she’s just pretty chill. I’m envious that she gets to go to bed early with Bobby Cannavale every night too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, cover courtesy of Shape.
Please tell me, from anyone’s experience, what is the benefit of the warm water with lemon? I’ve read it can damage your teeth?
She’s so beautiful, all her advice is simple, reasonable stuff too.
One benefit has to do with the idea that we wake up slightly acidic and lemon is alkalizing (sounds counterintuitive, since lemons are tart, but it has to do with the pH of a food after it’s burned—lemon forms an alkaine ash). It’s also refreshing and hydrating! I’ve done it for years, too. Used to use fresh lemons but lemons are so expensive now, so I usually replace fresh juice with either raw Apple Cider Vinegar, which tastes amazing and has similar benefits, or bottled organic lemon juice.
I’ve read that too much lemon will “rot your teeth” but I don’t know if that’s scientifically true.
Yes the acid in the lemon can wear down the enamel. The lemon can help stimulate the liver but personally, i just chug 1L water first thing in the morning. The lemon isn’t actually doing that much.
The lemon, if used in large amounts, can wear down the enamel. One slice in your water in the morning won’t hurt you. (Ex dental hygienist here.) There is no scientific reason for lemon water OR the requirement to super hydrate. Drink enough to have clear urine (which is a lot of water!) and you should be fine. I believe there have been a few recent publications about this.
My sister did it for years but had to stop when a dentist said something like “holy shit” at one appointment. She swore by it otherwise though. Maybe she put too much lemon in.
She is great.
I don’t understand the cover, though. The pose.
I know, very awkward & weird pose.
She is such a beauty, though. I remember her “naughty” character in Marie Antoinette.
She is beautiful and her hair looks great but this is the best pose/picture they had? She looks like the shirt is wearing her and her face is ridiculously photoshopped.
I’d go to bed early with that man too. Bobby Cannavalle is the sexiest man alive in my opinion.
I love Bobby Cannavale 😍
I love Bobby Cannavale 😍
omg I’m dying at this.
I am pretty good at drinking water, but I usually drink more in the AMs and then less in the afternoons, so I bought one of those cheesy water bottles with the hours written on it so you remember to drink throughout the day.
And yes its 128 oz and its HUGE and I can’t take it places with me because its so big. My husband makes so much fun of me for it. I didn’t realize how big it was going to be, lol. And the water gets warm by the end of the day. But I refuse to admit defeat and every morning I fill it up lol.
I work 12 hours shifts and everybody at work has one. I thought it was ridiculous at first, but now I love it
I could drink lemon water all day and not look like Rose Byrne.
Haha so true.
I really like her and I like what she has to say here. She doesn’t think she has all the secrets or answers to life – which might just be the key. Do what works for you and don’t judge other people’s choices.
I think she is one of the most beautiful women and I am so with her about sunscreen and going to bed early. Especially w Bobby C, are you joking me? Awesome
I loved her. And I hope she and Bobby Cannavale stay happy together forever. So much talent between them.
Googles how much a gallon is
How much is it? Feeling lazy… Ok… I’ll check it..
Almost four liters
Re: Bobby
After Boardwalk Empire I said to myself quietly “the things I would do to that man…”
Re: Rose what a talent and a beauty – love her in everything. I remember the first time I saw her in Troy – she stole every scene
I was once at a bbq in London – maybe 2005- and she was there. She’s exquisite and extremely petite (in a natural way, just super tiny!)
I might get yelled at for saying this since Western medicine is sometimes met with suspicion– I’m married to a doctor, I represent doctors and seven hospitals so I’m pretty entrenched in medicine, etc. I have NEVER heard a physician tout the benefit of lemon water. Not even a nephrologist who once looked at me as I sipped a diet coke and said there is no reason to ever drink anything other than water. So I have a hard time believing the lemon water schtick because I’m fairly convinced if it was that great for you, more healthcare providers would encourage we drink it. My two cents. Oh also I’m very anti chugging water all day. Water should be consumed to quench thirst, and one’s thirst is pretty subjective depending on metabolism, activity level, genetics etc. This idea that we should all be tanking water all day is pretty ridiculous to me. I stay hydrated enough to have clear urine and healthy looking skin and hair, and that’s good enough for me.
Absolutely right. It is a myth that we need to drink eight glasses of water a day. The first episode of the “Body Stuff” podcast debunks it and goes into the history of where the idea came from (the advertising industry is part of it). The doctor’s advice? If you are thirsty, drink. Another myth? That if you drink coffee, you need to drink extra water. Coffee contributes to your water content, like all our food does. Our bodies are smart. They extract water from everything we consume.
I read a science based article on this topic recently and felt seen. I hate forcing myself to drink water when I’m not thirsty. So I don’t.
Yep. Biggest problem in this country is people chugging high sugar high calorie soft drinks.
Yes. It apparently changes a little bit when you grow older, i.e. sometimes the things your body tells you about your water intake become a little muddled as you grow older. But other than that just listen to what your body tells you, drink when you’re thirsty and eat when you’re hungry (if you have the possibility to do so).
My big take away is that she’s from Australia. Never knew that.
I always have my black 64oz growler with me. It’s normally full of iced black tea. Ice keeps FOREVER. In fact, one ice fill in the am lasts through several beverage refills. I drink a lot of tea lol. My family and friends may chuckle, but I can’t live without my cold tea, and my extra long stainless straw with a silicone top. It is what it is. No dirty dishes. No trash. No waste. 😁
Well, drinking too much water can also damage your kidneys or even kill you since it can lead to kidney failure and swelling of the brain. Too much is too much in everything. One should drink enough to stay hydrated. Unless she is an athlete sh’es drinking 1/3 of gallon too much.
BUT WHAT ABOUT HER CUFFS? Is that photo cunningly cropped to hide some horrible knuckle shrouds?
Talk about burying the lede!
I have a half gallon Hydroflask bottle that I bring with me to a lot of places because I live in a dry climate and am constantly thirsty. My husband and friends tease me about how it is more of a weapon than a water bottle – I can’t imagine if it was twice the size! If I get a little dehydrated I can tell immediately because I start getting a headache so I prefer to have my bottle with me, and while I don’t drink a full gallon per day I’m probably at least around a 3/4’s of one every day.