Damaged Good ROSE BYRNE FINDS SUCCESS IN THE U.S.
FILM INTERVIEW
How will season 2 differ from the first? The new season was influenced by real-life environmental cases in America’s mining industry. The writers spent a lot of time talking to Robert F Kennedy Jr, the famous environmental lawyer, about the people he’s had to deal with, including some questionable CEOs. Damages is a drama, but it tackles issues you read about in the news.
BY B. LOVE
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HOUGH SHE’S PROVEN GUN SHY in previous interviews, actress Rose Byrne seems excited to talk to the media these days. Perhaps it’s because her latest film, Knowing (in which she starred opposite Nicolas Cage), debuted at the top of the global box office. Or maybe she’s just enthusiastic to talk about her award-winning role on the U.S.-based TV series Damages, which was recently picked up for a third season by cable network FX. Regardless of the reason for her good mood, the 29-year-old Sydney native certainly seems to be on a roll, looking gorgeous and happy as she sat down to discuss her Aussie roots, working in American television and what we can expect from the second season of her critically acclaimed TV show.
Will there be any changes afoot for your character? Ellen has gone through such an incredible transformation that it was almost like playing a new character. She’s still working for Patty (Glenn Close), but at the same time she’s working as an undercover informant for the FBI. She’s determined to destroy Patty and to use her firm’s resources to prove her fiancé was murdered by Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson). I think she’s burying her trauma and grief and focusing everything on that.
What did you take away from your Australian training? I think we have a great combination of the American and British training. Our theatre is similar to England’s, but we have a huge younger generation influenced by the [Sanford] Meisner/David Mamet school of acting. I was definitely influenced by that.
Why do you think the show has been such a critical success? It’s a very stylized show and it’s kind of heightened: Obviously lawyers aren’t really like this a lot of the times. But it’s flashy and dramatic and adrenaline-fueled and incredibly addictive. I recently watched [Roman] Polanski’s Frantic, which reminded me of Damages with all the tension and the weirdness. I immediately rang the [creators] and asked, “Was that an influence?” And it was! But I think the show has really carved out a niche for itself.
What are the biggest differences between working in Hollywood and Australia? In Australia, the industry is tiny and basically government-funded, so it’s a much slower, more bureaucratic process to get films made. It’s like comparing chalk and cheese, they’re so different. I’ve always been ambitious and wanted to work overseas, so when it started to happen I was delighted. But I’m so thankful for Australia and for my training there. It’s a beautiful country with incredible talent. There are so many prolific Australians in the film industry that it’s kind of disproportionate to our population. I’m very proud of that. Has the jump from Australian to American film and TV been everything you envisioned? Yeah, I love working on Damages. I’d been watching a lot of American television and said to my agent, “If there’s anything interesting, I’d love to have a look.” I ended up coming in very late in the casting process, but the show’s been a good platform for me because it’s popular within the [entertainment industry]. I feel really grateful to have the role, especially in these times, and Knowing was great because it came during our hiatus and it was shot in Australia.
Do you ever worry about being typecast by something people see you in on a weekly basis? I think Damages is perfect because we have a great viewership, but I don’t think I’ll ever be typecast as Ellen Parsons because the show’s not huge enough. I’m incredibly grateful ‘cuz it’s given me exposure that I would never have had before, Only 2% of the Screen Actors Guild works, so I’m so happy to be on that show and to be working in movies like Knowing and Adam. The Damages scripts seem so sharp and nasty. What was your initial reaction to them? I thought it was so clever and intriguing and leave-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat. I had never done a television show before, and it’s
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a completely different process. You have an intimacy with your character that I’ve never had before. The guys who create the show are incredibly smart, tweaking it and changing it and creating a whole world that we’re puppets in, but I trust them implicitly.
So what’s next for you in your career? I have a few months of down time before we start shooting season 3 of Damages. I’m just waiting to get the dates. I’m kinda in limbo at the moment, waiting to see what I can get up to!
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