Rose Byrne on 'Adam,' 'Get Him to the Greek' and Awkward Nudity

With a resume that includes sharing a tent with an oft-naked Brad Pitt ('Troy'), saving the world with Nicolas Cage ('Knowing') and stalking Josh Hartnett ('Wicker Park'), not to mention a recent Emmy nomination for her role on FX's 'Damages,' Rose Byrne should be a household name. Yet somehow, the 30-year-old Australian beauty has managed to stay under the radar while working in both well-regarded indies and money-making blockbusters.

Now you can find her giving a stellar turn in the buzzed-about indie dramedy 'Adam' (opening limited July 29), in which she plays a New York schoolteacher who falls for a man (Hugh Dancy) with Asperger's, a neurological disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction.

In an exclusive interview, Byrne reveals the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for her, dishes on playing a pop star opposite Russell Brand in 'Get Him to the Greek,' and opens up about her most embarrassing on-set moment (which involves both partial nudity and presents). -- By Tom DiChiara

'Adam' was kind of a different role for you in that it had a lot of comedic elements. What was it that intrigued you about the movie?
I guess it was for that reason: It was very different, and I had just done a season of 'Damages,' where I was playing this character who's under siege the whole time, and it was very intense. I thought ['Adam'] was lovely because there were elements of comedy and there were elements of drama. It's a tiny film, too. You do something like this and you expect to never hear about it again, and I've done plenty of films like that. It plays really well with audiences, and we really saw that at Sundance, so I really think it's deserving of this kind of attention. It definitely has an audience out there. You've just got to get it out there.

What was it like filming it in New York City the dead of winter?
It was pretty cold. It was just rough conditions too, because it was made on a wing and a prayer, so we were without many of the usual accoutrements that you get as an actor. But luckily Max Mayer, the director, was very sweet, so he held the stuff together. Just because it was cold at times there were certain things you didn't have, like a heater or a trailer. But I was used to the pace, coming from TV. You just work so fast. That didn't bother me. I love working in the city, it's great. It's the best place.


'Adam' showtimes & tickets

Is there any part of the city that you especially liked to hang out in while you were filming?
I've been living in the West Village the past few years because of the show, and I like the Village. I know downtown better than uptown, but saying that, Central Park is gorgeous. And every time I go to the park, I'm like, "Why don't I come here more?" It's strange how you become so locked into your little neighborhood, and then you realize everything's like 10 minutes from each other. It's silly, but people won't leave their block or whatever it is. But New York's a great place to explore. I've been to all of the boroughs now, too, which is good.

Is it refreshing to go back and do your TV show, 'Damages,' after doing a movie? How do you juggle the two?
I've been pretty lucky in that I've done some jobs in between the show. But the show's kind of wild. I feel every season I'm a different character anyway, because of all the stuff she goes through, so I can never claim to get bored or anything because it's always so bizarre and there's so many twists and turns in the plot. But I miss the relationship with the director that you have on a film. It's much more personal. TV is very much run by the producers and the show runners. I miss that with film, so it's lovely to do something like this where you work really intimately with someone. But on TV you have an intimacy with your character that I've never had before, because you spend so much time in their skin. Television is a different creative process, they're very much right around you and what you're doing day to day, so it's very fluid in that sense. Whereas film is totally different, it's sort of set on page already before you start.

That being said, is there any character that you've played that you really identify with, that you feel resembles you closely?
Not really, no. I'm Australian for a start, so it's so different. But that's good. It's good to go to a character a little bit more rather than them come to you. I think that's a good challenge to try. Because you always try to align yourself with them, and you do. You try not to judge the character, but I have yet to play someone who's that similar to myself, I don't think.

At some point, would you like to play somebody that at least has an Australian accent?
[Laughs] It's strange. I used to but now I'm at the side where I don't know how to act without an accent [laughs]. I'm so used to putting one on -- it's usually American these days. But I'm so used to it, I think it would be more daunting to do it in my natural voice, weirdly. I'd have nothing to hide behind [laughs].

In 'Adam,' was Hugh always in character in between takes, or did he let his guard down?
He sort of was. I think it was almost subconscious -- he was still very pleasant and fun, but he was reserved and in his own world a bit and would read in between takes. It's such a personal thing, how people work. So I didn't take it on board once I realized that's just how he is, and that's fine. But then subsequent to that, during the press, he's like totally animated and engaging and conversational. He's like a different guy. So it's really wild. I think he did shut down a little bit, or shut off a little bit. I would too, I think, if I did something like that. You've got such a responsibility, and you just seep into your own person a little bit, I would imagine.

There's a great scene in the movie where Hugh is dressed in an astronaut costume and washing your windows from the outside, kind of a grand romantic gesture. What's the most romantic thing that anyone has ever done for you?
This is so ridiculous. I had a boyfriend buy me a Prada dress once. I was really young, too. I was like: "This is so expensive. Are you kidding?" It was too much. I was so overwhelmed with how much he would have spent on me with this bloody dress [laughs]. But that was very romantic. And then I had a boyfriend -- we hadn't seen each other in a while and he was like, "What are you doing on the fifth of June?" And I was like, "Well I'm going to be in England." I was shooting 'Troy' at the time. He was like, 'Why don't you go to this bridge?" And I was at the bridge, and there he was in the middle of the bridge with flowers. It was very beautiful.

Have you ever had any really awkward moments on set?
Oh, yeah. A producer once walked in on me getting changed -- that was kind of weird -- with a gift or something. So I was like half dressed going, "Hey, thank you so much!"

You've starred opposite Glenn Close, Brad Pitt and a host of other big-name stars. Is there anybody you've worked with that you were intimidated to meet?
I always get a little bit intimidated initially, when you go in to meet someone. And then you get used to it. You can't be intimidated for too long because you have to work, and then it's fine and it's the same and you become relaxed and you get to know them and whatever. But I can get a little overwhelmed and timid about things and go into overdrive and be probably too friendly and nice and asking too many questions. Then I'll have to pull back and relax. Relax. They've all been great. All these actors, whether it's Glenn [Close] or Nicolas [Cage] or whomever, they all still work so hard. It's not like they've arrived. They're so into the work. So that's good, I kind of find solace in that. I guess you have more to lose, the more famous you are, in terms of your standard. You've got such stuff to live up to. I admire their work ethic.

Next up you've got 'Get Him to the Greek' with Russell Brand -- has that started filming yet?
Yeah, I had a few weeks in L.A., and then I've got a few weeks in August. So I haven't finished yet. I'll finish that in August. My role's really small, a couple of scenes in the beginning and a couple of scenes at the end. It's been really good fun. I've been doing some singing because she's a pop singer. It's a real departure from anything I've done before, but it's really cool. It's like kind of out there and really silly [laughs]. Russell's so funny. He's just hard not to laugh at in the scenes because there's a lot of improvising and he's very quick and erudite and comes up with the most incredible improvs, and I'm left standing there trying to keep up with him.

What's next for your character Ellen on 'Damages'?
On 'Damages' [pronounces it "Dah-maj"]?

Oh, is that the French pronunciation?
[Laughs] That's my joke pronunciation. I'm trying to spread the word. "Da-maj." Like "Tar-shay." In Australia we say that instead of Target: Tar-shay [laughs]. But we have one more season. We start season 3 in September, and then beyond that I'm not sure. I hope we'll have more, but it's a pretty tough time. I guess we'll see how the season goes and how it goes this year at the Emmys and all that sort of stuff. But I'm really grateful for the show. It's a really great, amazing experience.

Why do you think Ellen has kept Patty [Glenn Close] in her life despite all of the stuff she puts her through?
I don't know, it's a bit of a Frankenstein story. It's such an interesting dynamic, that they're almost like family now. In a weird way there's not a lot of people who would understand what she's been through other than Patty. They'll always have a huge history and connection that's just impossible to deny, so I think it's very complicated in that sense. But in the end of season 2, she says that she has a new job and that she's working for someone else. I'm so curious to see what they're going to do, how they're going to resolve the whole thing. I'm excited for it.

Do you have any other movies lined up after 'Greek'?
No, actually. 'Damages' will probably shoot until early in the new year, and then beyond that I'm not sure. But I'd love to do some more comedy. That would be great.