In celebration of Bridesmaids' home release this week, Byrne took a break from filming The Place Beyond the Pines opposite Ryan Gosling and preparing for the fifth season of the legal drama Damages to phone Movieline. Among the subjects discussed: the real-life friend who inspired Byrne's bitchy Bridesmaids character, the summer of the R-rated comedy, sequels for Bridesmaids and X-Men: First Class and the reason why the 32-year-old Australian actress had no interest feigning digestive disturbances inside a bridal shop.
People are speculating that the box office success of Bridesmaids has completely changed the landscape for female comedies. But how has its success affected you and your career so far, if at all?
Well, I hope it means I can do more comedy. I'm on season five of Damages now. We start that in a few weeks, but I'd like to do more comedy after that. It's definitely changed my life, though, to be in a film that was embraced by so many people. That's something I haven't experienced before, and it was a real pleasure.
Have you noticed a sudden surge in the number of comedic roles you're being offered?
To be honest, I'm not even sure because I'm busy with the show. [Laughs] We'll wait and see. I hope so, though.
Your character Helen was so particular in some of her mannerisms that it almost seemed like you had based her on someone. After the film came out, did you have any similarly-mannered friends ask about your inspiration for Helen?
I had one girlfriend who saw the movie and she said, "That was me. Did you base your character on me?"
Had you based it on her?
Well, just the polished quality of Helen is based off of a girlfriend of mine. She was laughing about it though. She saw herself in Helen. She saw the polish and the very put-together quality that she has. That's something I had thought about.
Did you admit that it was based on her?
I did! [Laughs] It wasn't her personality though -- just her appearance.
I admire the ability to look polished all of the time. That's a good quality to have.
I admire it too! I wish I could always look like I had just gotten out of the salon.
In addition to being polished, your character was the most uptight of the bunch. Were you ever jealous that you did not get to participate in some of the wilder lady hijinks in the film?
I guess there were a few things, but it's funny: When you play a character, sometimes you don't think about that. Annie's scene in the car at the end of the movie was pretty funny. But I'm used to being the one who is looking at the person who is funny -- not being them. I was the straight man here, just watching the other people being funny and giving my reaction, which is part of the comedy too I guess.
So you weren't yearning to help out with the broader humor that took place, say, in the wedding parlor/stomach upset scene?
At that point, no. Not at all. I was relieved to not have to do that, because that took like four additional hours in hair and make-up. At the time, I was just trying to hold that conservative tension throughout the ridiculousness of it all.
Does comedy feel natural to you?
I think I've gotten more comfortable at it after Get Him to the Greek and Bridesmaids, but I still have a long way to go. It's something I had always aspired to do. I like laughing, and my favorite films are comedies. I would like to continue to get better at it. Comedy is frightening though. It's scarier to me, which is exciting, but I've been so lucky to work with the people I have. I'm spoiled really. From the beginning [with Bridesmaids], I couldn't believe my luck -- that I got to share the screen with Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph and Melissa and Wendy [McClendon-Covey]. I really couldn't. These are properly funny comedic women, and to be there, with them holding my hand throughout it, it was just really an honor.
How is the energy different on a comedy like Get Him to the Greek versus Bridesmaids?
Well, the characters are just so radically different. Jackie Q was the wild, loose, self-obsessed, maniac pop star. She was very instinctual, would say anything she wanted, didn't have any filter. Helen is so uptight and strained and obsessed with status and talks down to people. She's very entitled. So the characters were just polar opposites and the experiences playing those different characters were entirely different. The method of improv and trying different things on set was the same though. So it was the same style but entirely different ideas. Russell and Kristen are both very gifted at improv and talented comedians, so that was also a similarity.
When you first read the script, did you know immediately that you wanted to play Helen?
I read it and I just said, "I'll play any of them." I loved the script. I knew all of these women. I knew the situations. I related to it. It was just so funny and at that point, Kristen was the only person attached. I said, "I'd love to audition for any of these characters." I went in for [Maya Rudolph's character] Lillian originally, and then my agent said, "You must take a crack at [Helen]." And I guess that worked out best.
I really want to see these characters again. Have you heard anything about a Bridesmaids sequel?
Not really! It's really something the press mentioned more than anyone else. I'll keep you posted, but I don't have any updates on that.
This summer was a particularly big box office season for R-rated comedies. Did you feel any kind of kinship or competition with Hangover 2, Horrible Bosses and Bad Teacher?
I don't think, really. Our success was kind of wild. When we did Bridesmaids, we had no idea how well it would do. You just really never know. There were no big stars in our film. We didn't think it had "surefire hit" written all over it when we were making it. The fact that it did so well was just a fantastic, surprising thing. I am just so honored to be a part of it.
Next up, you have Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines with Ryan Gosling. How is production going?
We're nearly done. We have a little more to do but we've been shooting in New York. Everyone's really great. Ryan's great. Bradley Cooper is wonderful. Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta are in it too and it's such a good cast. It's been really fun and very dramatic. But it's been fun to get to work with these people whom I admire.
Lastly, you have a wide-ranging resume but at this point in your career, which of your roles do you remember as being the most fulfilling to you at the time?
In different ways, every role is satisfying. I love doing comedy now but you can't really narrow it down. Damages has been incredibly fulfilling and being in New York and working with Glenn Close -- it's just a fantastic job to have. I'm blessed to be able to do it.