Australian actress Rose Byrne is an actress of many genres. From comedies like Spy to action films like the X-Men franchise, the talented actress’ range has proven strong. Her first larger role came in the Brad Pitt and Eric Bana film Troy, where she played Briseis. From there, Byrne went on to join perhaps one of the scariest films ever made, Insidious, wherein she plays the mother of a boy who can essentially dream-walk or leave his body when he is asleep. From there, Byrne was part of two successful movies in 2011. She joined the X-Men franchise in, X-Men: First Class and is among some of the powerhouse comedic women in the women-led comedy, Bridesmaids. In 2014, Byrne got to star alongside the talented Seth Rogen in one of his best films, Neighbors and as part of another stellar cast in the comedy, This Is Where I Leave You.
Most of her best and most notable movies came from the 2010s, but we can expect good things are still to come for the actress. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Byrne reflected on her small role in one of the Star Wars films, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where she played Natalie Portman’s handmaiden. While laughing, she admitted she hadn’t realized she was in a prequel to one of the most popular franchises ever created. Here are some of Rose Byrne’s best movies, ranked.
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6 Neighbors
Point Grey Pictures
In Neighbors, Kelly and Mac, played by Byrne and Seth Rogen, seem to have everything going for them between a nice house and a newborn baby — that is, until a fraternity moves in next door and takes all their peace and quiet and fills it with parties, girls, and loud music. They try to reason with the fraternity’s president Teddy, played by Zac Efron, but that doesn’t go so well. Prank wars break out between the new parents and the fraternity with each prank getting worse and more dangerous proving that fraternity boys do not make great neighbors.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 This is Where I Leave You
Warner Bros.
The 2014 comedy This is Where I Leave You boasts a stellar cast of Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Kathryn Hahn, Connie Britton, and more. Byrne plays Penny Moore, a childhood friend to Judd (Bateman) who has always had a crush on him. The two are reunited when Judd’s father passes away and forces his four children to return to their childhood home and survive under one roof for the week. Between their over-sharing mother, spouses, exes, and might-have-beens, the siblings are forced to confront their history.
4 X-Men: First Class
20th Century Studios
Byrne plays Moira MacTaggert, a CIA agent who discovers the existence of mutants working with Dr. Sebastian Shaw, played by Kevin Bacon. She goes to Professor Xavier, played by James McAvoy, to try and recruit his mutants to join the US government in the fight about to go down with Shaw. X-Men: First Class takes a look into a young Professor X and Magneto at a time when they were “friendly”. The film is part of the X-Men franchise, but a sort of prequel/spinoff of the famous feuding characters. Set in the 1960s, we learn not only how Professor X is put in a wheelchair, but more about Magneto’s background.
3 Spy
In Spy, Byrne plays Rayna Boyanov, an arms dealer’s daughter who wants to start a nuclear crisis of global proportions. Susan, played by Melissa McCarthy, is a desk agent who has her big break when she volunteers to go undercover to try and stop Rayna. This action-comedy was written and directed by Paul Feig, the same director that featured both Byrnes and McCarthy in Bridesmaids. The film was a major hit and naturally invoked conversations of a sequel. Unfortunately, per Collider, Feig revealed that the studio, 20th Century Studios, isn’t interested in one at this time.
2 Insidious
Haunted Movies
James Wan’s Insidious franchise was some of the most talked-about horror franchises in the 2010s. The first film centers around a young boy, Dalton, played by Ty Simpkins, who can travel to a realm called The Further when he is asleep. During one of his travels, an accident happens, and he falls into a coma. Three months later, Byrne’s character, Renai, starts to see mysterious things happening around the house, including seeing ghosts. Together with her husband Josh, played by Patrick Wilson, they consult a medium, Elise (Lin Shaye), to investigate. It’s Elise who tells the family about Dalton’s abilities and how he inherited them from his father, who now has to travel to The Further to bring Dalton home.
1 Bridesmaids
Apatow Productions
In the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, Byrne plays Helen, a wealthy and beautiful new friend to the bride, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. Helen is everything Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, is not, which leads to a lot of jealousy and competition when it comes to being the perfect bridesmaid to Lillian. Annie and Lillian are lifelong best friends, but as Annie’s life is falling apart, Helen swoops in to make everything “perfect”. The more perfect Helen seems, the less wonderful Annie feels. From food poisoning to being arrested on an airplane, Byrne shines among some of the funniest women comedic actresses.
