Inside Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale’s Private Romance

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Bobby Cannavale wasn’t able to be there to celebrate with Rose Byrne when she won Best Female Actor – Musical/Comedy at the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11th, and he might be regretting that now.

Though the reason for his absence is rather, uh, wild.

While accepting her award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the actress known for If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You thanked her husband, Bobby Cannavale. She explained he couldn’t attend because he was at a reptile show in New Jersey picking up a new pet – a bearded dragon.

It was a plan hatched by their sons Rocco, 9, and Rafael, 8. 

The actress explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that her brother, George Byrne, would be her date to the event because someone she wanted to bring couldn’t make it, which she was really disappointed about. She described the event as “the place to be” and said it would be a letdown for her and her family if they didn’t go, as they’d promised to attend.

After 14 years together, and ten years since Byrne first started wearing a noticeable ring, the couple has begun casually referring to each other as husband and wife.

Cannavale told Vulture in January 2020 that he prefers the terms ‘husband and wife’ because other labels feel awkward. He finds ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ too immature and ‘partner’ too clinical.

Though Byrne wasn’t totally opposed to one unstuffy suggestion, joking, “My lover, Bobby.” 

They’d been planning to wed, she noted, “and then another baby, and then—”

Bottom line, Cannavale summed up, “Who gives a s–t. It’s just funny what people care about.”

Despite being generally private people—as the New Jersey native with Cuban and Italian heritage and his Australian actress partner have said, their relationship is more of a public fascination than a personal focus—fans have followed their romance with great interest since it began.

I remember when Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale first met – it was back in 2012, right as she was finishing up her run on Damages. Apparently, the connection between them was instant! Glenn Close, who worked with Rose on the show, told Vanity Fair a few years ago that their chemistry was just incredible. And honestly, everyone seems to adore them both – they’re just really lovable people.

They quickly began working together professionally and personally, first appearing as a married couple in the 2014 independent film Adult Beginners. That same year, they both starred in a remake of Annie. Then, in 2015, they played villains in the comedy Spy. Finally, they performed on stage near their Brooklyn home in Simon Stone’s adaptation of Euripides’ play Medea.

Even though the subject matter is risky, the two performers really want to collaborate more often.

Finding the right work is tough,” Byrne explained to Vulture. “A big factor is having two parents who aren’t available to put kids to bed – that’s what I consider the most important part of the decision.

But when it works…

The 55-year-old recently told Us Weekly that she and her colleague have a long history of working together, including projects in television, film, theater, and commercials. She explained that it’s special to collaborate in any field, especially since they both have young children. Being able to work together allows their kids to know where they are and provides a sense of family togetherness – it’s like being part of a ‘family band.’

Sometimes, they worry that everyone in their family isn’t getting along perfectly.

During a January 2020 interview with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, actor Bobby Cannavale shared a funny story about his kids. He said he and his wife often overhear their two young sons talking about them before they even wake up. Apparently, the older son, who is four, helps his two-year-old brother get out of his sleep sack and then out of the crib.

“So, they’re plotting something,” he went on. “And it seems like whatever it is, it’s making them angry.”

Their oldest son is very sensitive, Cannavale explained, but his younger brother is a total whirlwind – they call him ‘Seal Team 6’ because he’s energetic and fearless.

A particularly brute one at that. 

Oh my god, you will NOT believe what happened! So, Mark was telling this story about when they were leaving Toronto – he’d been playing in Mrs. America as Gloria Steinem, can you even imagine?! – and they were packing up to come back to New York. Apparently, they had this huge moving box, and little Rocco climbed inside! But Rafa, being Rafa, wasn’t letting him have it all to himself. Mark said Rafa actually grabbed Rocco by the hair – can you believe it?! – and yanked him down with the box, then crawled in himself! It was just…so Rafa and Rocco, you know? Mark tells the best stories!

Their life together is pretty normal – Cannavale handles most of the long-term planning, while Byrne tends to live more in the present, as she told Vulture. She described them as perfectly balanced opposites.

But they have no issue acting as unmistakably dysfunctional couples. 

Because no doubt, the Emmy winner is her favorite co-star. 

I just have to say, he’s truly one of a kind! I told In Style back in 2017 that he’s endlessly fascinating and always keeps me entertained. It’s hard to explain what makes him so special, but I honestly feel so lucky to know him.

Same, same for Cannavale. 

Rose is my absolute favorite actor,” he told Us Weekly. “I’m constantly impressed by her talent. She brings something unique to every role, and I never see the same performance from her twice. I’d support her in any project, without hesitation.

You know, as long as there’s not a bearded dragon to fetch. 

I was so thrilled to hear what Rose Byrne shared with Extra after winning! She said things are going great – she’s found someone special, and apparently, he’s really handsome and they’re already living together! It’s just so exciting for her!

“Bobby is doing God’s work,” she added. “This is easy.”

Byrne wasn’t the only winner at the Golden Globes. Here’s a complete list of who took home awards:

Adam Brody—Nobody Wants This

Steve Martin—Only Murders in the Building

Glen Powell—Chad Powers

WINNER: Seth Rogen—The Studio

Martin Short—Only Murders in the Building

Jeremy Allen White—The Bear

WINNER: Timothee Chalamet—Marty Supreme

George Clooney—Jay Kelly

Leonardo DiCaprio—One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke—Blue Moon

Lee Byung-Hun—No Other Choice

Jesse Plemons—Bugonia

Kathy Bates—Matlock 

Britt Lower—Severance

Helen Mirran—Mobland

Bella Ramsey—The Last of Us

Keri Russell—The Diplomat

WINNER: Rhea Seehorn—Pluribus

Joel Edgerton—Train Dreams

Oscar Isaac—Frankenstein

Dwayne Johnson—The Smashing Machine

Michael B. Jordan—Sinners

WINNER: Wagner Moura—The Secret Agent

Jeremy Allen White—Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

WINNER: Jessie Buckley—Hamnet

Jennifer Lawrence—Die My Love

Renate Reinsve—Sentimental Value

Julia Roberts—After the Hunt

Tessa Thompson—Hedda

Eva Victor—Sorry, Baby

Marty Supreme

Bugonia 

Blue Moon

No Other Choice

Nouvelle Vague

WINNER: One Battle After Another

Kristen Bell—Nobody Wants This

Ayo Edebiri—The Bear

Natasha Lyonne—Poker Face

Selena Gomez—Only Murders in the Building

Jenna Ortega—Wednesday

WINNER: Jean Smart—Hacks

Sentimental Value

WINNER: Hamnet

Frankenstein

It Was Just an Accident

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

The Diplomat

WINNER: The Pitt

Pluribus

Severance

Slow Horses

The White Lotus

Jacob Elordi—The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Paul Giamatti—Black Mirror

WINNER: Stephen Graham—Adolescence

Charlie Hunnam—Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Jude Law—Black Rabbit

Matthew Rhys—The Beast in Me

WINNER: Erin Doherty—Adolescence

Carrie Coon—The White Lotus

Hannah Einbender—Hacks

Catherine O’Hara—The Studio

Parker Posey—The White Lotus

Aimee Lou Wood—The White Lotus

Benecio del Toro—One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi—Frankenstein

Paul Mescal—Hamnet

Sean Penn—One Battle After Another

Adam Sandler—Jay Kelly

WINNER: Stellan Skarsgard—Sentimental Value

Sterling K. Brown—Paradise 

Diego Luna—Andor

Gary Oldman—Slow Horses 

Mark Ruffalo—Task

Adam Scott—Severance

WINNER: Noah Wyle—The Pitt

WINNER: Owen Cooper—Adolescence

Billy Crudup—The Morning Show

Walton Goggins—The White Lotus

Jason Isaacs—The White Lotus

Tramell Tillman—Severance

Ashley Waters—Adolescence

“Dream as One”—Avatar: Fire and Ash; Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen

The team “Golden”—from K:Pop Demon Hunters—won! The team members are Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Park Hong Jun, Kim Eun-jae (EJAE), and Mark Sonnenblick.

“I Lied to You”—Sinners; Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson

“No Place Like Home”—Wicked: For Good; Stephen Schwartz 

“The Girl in the Bubble”—Wicked: For Good; Stephen Scwartz 

“Train Dreams”—Train Dreams; Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner

WINNER: Adolescence

All Her Fault

The Beast in Me

Black Mirror

Dying for Sex

The Girlfriend

WINNER: Rose Byrne—If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You

Cynthia Erivo—Wicked: For Good

Kate Hudson—Song Sung Blue

Chase Infiniti—One Battle After Another

Amanda Seyfried—The Testament of Ann Lee

Emma Stone—Bugonia

Claire Danes—The Beast in Me

Rashida Jones—Black Mirror

Amanda Seyfried—Long Bright River

Sarah Snook—All Her Fault

WINNER: Michelle Williams—Dying for Sex

Robin Wright—The Girlfriend

Emily Blunt—The Smashing Machine

Elle Fanning—Sentimental Value

Ariana Grande—Wicked: For Good

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas—Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan—Weapons

WINNER: Teyana Taylor—One Battle After Another

Avatar: Fire and Ash

F1

KPop Demon Hunters

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

WINNER: Sinners

Weapons 

Wicked: For Good

Zootopia 2

Arco

Demon Slayer: Kimestu No Yaiba Infinity Castle

Elio 

Little Amelie or The Character of the Rain

WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters

Zootopia 2

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Nobody Wants This

Only Murders in the Building

WINNER: The Studio

WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson—One Battle After Another

Ryan Coogler—Sinners

Guillermo del Toro—Frankenstein

Jafar Panahi—It Was an Accident

Joachim Trier—Sentimental Value

Chloe Zhao—Hamnet

WINNER: One Battle After Another—Paul Thomas Anderson

Marty Supreme—Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein 

Sinners—Ryan Coogler

It Was Just an Accident—Jafar Panahi 

Sentimental Value—Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

Hamnet—Chloe Zhao, Maggie O’ Farrell

  • Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard
  • Call Her Daddy
  • WINNER: Good Hang With Amy Poehler
  • The Mel Robbins Podcast
  • SmartLess
  • Up First

Alexandre Desplat—Frankenstein 

WINNER: Ludwig Göransson—Sinners

Jonny Greenwood—One Battle After Another

Kangding Ray—Sirat

Max Richter—Hamnet

Hans Simmer—F1

It Was Just an Accident

No Other Choice

Sentimental Value

WINNER: The Secret Agent

Sirat

The Voice of Hind Rajab

  • Bill Maher, “Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?”
  • Brett Goldstein, “Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life”
  • Kevin Hart, “Kevin Hart: Acting My Age”
  • Kumail Nanjiani, “Kumail Nanjiani, Night Thoughts”
  • WINNER: Ricky Gervais, “Ricky Gervais: Mortality”
  • Sarah Silverman, “Sarah Silverman: Postmortem”

Sarah Jessica Parker 

Helen Mirren 

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2026-01-12 22:50