Rose Byrne won her first career Golden Globe for her role as a mother on the brink in the genre-bending psychological film If I Had Legs, I’d Kick It.
Byrne seemed genuinely surprised by her win at Sunday’s ceremony, joking about her very dark film being nominated in the musical or comedy category. “Of course I didn’t prepare anything,” Byrne said, taking the microphone. “I didn’t sing in this movie. I’m really shocked!”
She thanked the film’s writer and director, Mary Bronstein, and noted the successful production schedule. “She wrote this incredible script and she wanted me to do it,” Byrne continued. “We shot this movie in 25 days for about $8.50. It’s a small movie, so it’s a big deal to be here.”
Byrne ended her short speech by explaining the rather unique reason why her brother was her date to the Golden Globes rather than her longtime partner Bobby Cannavale.
“I would like to thank my husband. He was planning on getting a bearded dragon and was at a reptile expo in New Jersey, so he couldn’t be here,” she said.
Byrne secured the win, beating out Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), Kate Hudson (Song San Bleu), Chase Infinity (One Battle After Another), Amanda Seyfried (Ang Lee) and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
Byrne, known for funny movies like “Bridesmaids,” “Neighbors” and “Spy,” was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series in 2008 and 2010 for the legal thriller “Damages.” The Australian actress has been in the awards conversation for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You since the film premiered at Sundance a year ago. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival and was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Award.
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” follows a woman named Linda who begins to lose her sanity in her husband’s absence, and whose mysteriously ill daughter is hooked up to a constantly beeping medical device. Conan O’Brien, Daniel Macdonald, Delaney Quinn, Christian Slater, and A$AP Rocky round out the cast.
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