Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend: Rose Byrne

Release Date: October 13, 2025
Guest: Rose Byrne
Host(s): Conan O’Brien, Sona Movsesian, Matt Gourley

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Conan is joined by acclaimed Australian actress Rose Byrne, his co-star in the new film If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. They reflect on their unique experience working together, Rose’s journey from Sydney to Hollywood, her evolution as an actress traversing both comedy and drama, and the distinctiveness of their latest project with writer-director Mary Bronstein. The conversation winds through influences, cultural humor, the complexity of caretaking and motherhood, and the joys (and weirdness) of creative collaboration.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Rose’s Upbringing and Early Comedy Influences

[15:16–18:48]

• Grew up in Balmain, Sydney, youngest of four.
• Early comedic spark: “The youngest thing of, like, you're goofy, maybe, like, trying to get attention and being a little bit goofy. And my mother says I liked the attention, but I was also quite shy.” (Rose Byrne, 15:50)
• Cites John Cleese (Fawlty Towers) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Elaine on Seinfeld, Veep) as formative comedic inspirations.
  • “She was so groundbreaking, you know, and amongst these men and just such a specific, lived in character. So physically funny, verbally brilliant.” (Rose Byrne on Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 17:24)

2. Heath Ledger and the Start of Rose’s Career

[19:14–22:41]

• Worked opposite Heath Ledger in Two Hands at age 18.
  • “He was integral in getting me agents and getting me to auditions…very generous guy. Also shy, actually. There was a kind of reserve about him…” (Rose Byrne, 20:14)
• Reflections on Ledger’s creative instincts and courage as an actor, especially his transformational Joker performance.
  • “He had a creativity about him, and a goofiness in that role in particular was so unexpected…stands the test of time, obviously.” (Rose Byrne, 21:52)

3. Rose’s Comic Range: From Bridesmaids to Damages

[26:45–28:53]

• Cast in a strong comedic ensemble past her drama credentials (“I was on Damages”), showcasing remarkable range with willingness to play both uptight and outrageous.
• Reflections on pinning subtle comedic moves and finding the character’s motivation through status and competition.

4. The New Film: If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You

[29:03–56:01, major focus]

• Script Origin & Casting:

  • Rose was drawn by the script’s originality: “There’s an incredible symmetry…with the imagery, kind of the metaphors that are going on.”
  • Conan: Initially wary, thinking he would only be playing himself; surprised and flattered to be cast as a therapist. “My first reaction was, there’s— be honest—there’s been a mistake.” (32:48)
  • Hilarious recounting of their first meeting, with Rose mock-grilling Conan on his dramatic credentials.

• Shooting Experience:

  • Filmed in tight quarters (“tiny, tiny room”), with an emotional intensity Conan found both grounding and personally challenging.
    • “Every cell in my body is saying, we must help Rose Byrne. And then I have to remind myself, this is not Rose Byrne right now. This is my patient.” (Conan, 39:00)
  • Rose’s ability to deliver emotionally raw performances take after take: “Those scenes were… epic …there’s a fun element of, like, can we do this?” (Rose Byrne, 40:19)
  • The power of offering choices and playful improvisation, bringing levity to heavy material.

• Perspective & Reception:

  • Both express awe and gratitude for being part of such an unconventional, female-centric film.
  • “I’m protective of it…like, I think it's such an incredible piece of art. I think Mary's a force of nature.” (Rose Byrne, 48:17)
  • Discussion on the rarity of such a narrative, especially with a mother/caretaker protagonist whose pain isn’t sanitized for comfort.

5. Cultural Humor, Self-Deprecation, and Australian-Irish Connections

[42:10–47:24]

• Conan and Rose bond over a shared love of self-deprecation, attributing it to their Irish (and Australian) roots.
  • “That’s the currency in my family where I come from, which is you make fun of yourself before anyone else can make fun of you.” (Conan, 46:42)
  • Tall poppy syndrome and Australian irreverence; Rose discusses how humor is a shield and a cultural norm.

6. Motherhood, Caretaking, and Uncomfortable Truths

[54:09–55:50]

• Exploring the film’s theme: The honest, difficult reality of caretaking and maternal exhaustion.
  • “There's a lot of shame around women who are disappointed with motherhood or have anger around motherhood… She's just in this crisis of being a caretaker.” (Rose Byrne, 54:42)
• Rose is grateful for the opportunity to portray these truths on screen.

7. On Film, Acting, and Professional Growth

[53:27–54:09]

• Discussed the technical side of acting (e.g., extreme camera close-ups), rehearsal process, and the unique challenge of anchoring a film written entirely from her character’s perspective.
• Acknowledgment of the rarity of being the true center of a narrative as a woman in film.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Conan on working with Rose:
  • “You show up and you are one of my favorite people of all time, seriously.” (13:26)
• Rose on acting with Conan:
  • “You were there. You were my sane partner and you were present. And I never felt not safe.” (38:08)
• On the film’s depiction of motherhood:
  • “This movie is, like, refusing to ignore this woman…You can't look away. This is a [mom] in a crisis…which is a response…I felt seen.” (Rose Byrne, 49:24)

Funniest Segments & Light Moments

• Running joke about trays, stair chairs, elevators, and the ‘Stilts/Slits’ company
  • Absurd speculation about installing a home elevator (“Slits”) and putting David Hopping in an elevator operator uniform. (09:01–13:18)
• Conan’s mock childhood showbiz story
  • Playing a “seat-filler” at an MTV awards rehearsal, accidentally giving Tina Turner false hope of a win. (62:10–66:14)
• The Irish pirate agent bit:
  • Conan’s exaggerated Irish/ pirate accent while imagining Rose’s agent. (29:31–29:52)
• The CPR dummy Oscar host idea
  • “This is hosted tonight by the CPR dummy. Yeah. Leo DiCaprio comes out, does chest compressions.” (59:22)

Time-Stamped Highlights

• Birthday Banter & “Tray” Discussion:
  • 02:19–09:01: Sona’s month-long birthday celebrations, lost possessions, comedic riff about household trays and home elevators.
• Rose’s Childhood & Comic Inspirations:
  • 15:16–17:24: Early influences, Fawlty Towers, the brilliance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
• Heath Ledger, Two Hands, and Artistic Choices:
  • 19:14–21:52: Working with Ledger, his impact on Rose’s career, reflections on his Joker.
• On Playing Comedic & Dramatic Roles:
  • 26:45–28:53: Experiences on Bridesmaids, transitioning between genres.
• The Making of If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You:
  • 29:03–56:01: Detailed and humorous breakdown of receiving the script, preparing, acting together, and the emotional challenges of filming.
• Cultural Humor, Irishness, and Self-Deprecation:
  • 42:10–47:24: Tall poppy syndrome, self-mockery, and the Irish-Australian kinship.
• Motherhood & Caretaking Realism On Screen:
  • 54:09–55:50: The honesty of the film’s perspective, societal expectations.
• Oscar Hosting & Family Resemblances:
  • 57:10–58:18: Comedic riffing about awards shows, hosting, and dubious family resemblances.
• Showbiz Anecdotes & Music Rights Jokes:
  • 62:10–68:09: Early showbiz stories, musical parodies, riffing on legality of singing hit songs.

Conclusion & Closing Reflections

The episode culminates in a warm mutual appreciation, with Conan expressing pride and admiration for Rose and Mary Bronstein for making such a bold, resonant film. Rose reveals her deep emotional investment in the movie, her gratitude for the opportunity, and her intent to continue not taking herself (but always her work) too seriously.

Memorable Outro:

“Just a joy to work with you, too, and to get to know you better. And I'll be seeing you around the circuit.”
—Conan O’Brien (60:27)

Release Note:
If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You hits cinemas October 10th.

For New Listeners

This episode is a treat for fans of Rose Byrne, those interested in the creative process of filmmaking, and anyone who appreciates the blend of genuine emotional inquiry and comedic absurdity that defines Conan’s best interviews. No prior knowledge required—just jump in and enjoy the smart, silly, and soulful camaraderie.