Rose Byrne on Famous Fitness Influencers and the Worst Part of Aging

Waking up early is one of the things that makes Rose Byrne feel most productive, and mouth tape is one of the things that helps her get the best night’s sleep. “I’ve become fanatical about nose breathing. Did you read that book, Breath?” says the actor, 44, referring to journalist James Nestor’s book on the science and history of breathing. “It’s all about the benefits of breathing through your nose. What I was doing was, my mouth was falling open, and I was feeling so gross the next day.” 

In the morning, Byrne makes breakfast for her kids—Rocco, 7, and Rafa, 5—before waking them. “I try to get them pumped up for the day in a gentle manner,” she says. She walks them to school and, on the way back, usually stops at her favorite Brooklyn coffee shop. On Monday mornings, she relishes time to herself at home after the mayhem of the weekend.

Byrne, who was born and raised in Australia, rose to fame as the beautiful, wealthy antagonist Helen in 2011’s Bridesmaids. She recently played Sylvia, an existentially lost stay-at-home mom, opposite Seth Rogen in the buddy comedy Platonic, and she currently stars in the final season of Physical, as housewife-turned–aerobics star Sheila, both on Apple TV+. Here, in an interview in early July, she speaks to WSJ. about the fitness influencers whose classes she’s tried, her “very Australian” sense of humor and a piece of advice from her mother. 

How do you like your coffee and breakfast?
A flat white with oat milk. And brekkie, I’m usually pretty light, but I’ll have some Vegemite toast. It’s such a cliché since I’m an Aussie.

What’s your exercise routine?
I stretch. I’ve got a good little yoga routine that I’ll do. I see a trainer at S10 Training in the city. I usually try to get to him on Monday if I can. I lift weights, and they have a cold plunge at the gym, so I’ve been getting kind of addicted.

In line with Physical, have you ever taken classes from any fitness influencers?
Leading up to shooting the show, I work with the wonderful choreographer Jennifer Hamilton, usually a couple of months in advance, and it’s over Zoom because she’s in L.A. and I’m in New York. I did a couple of the Taryn Toomey classes [The Class], and I remember going, Wow, this is, I don’t want to say a cult, but it did feel like a movement. Body by Simone, I’ve done a few of her classes. It was fun to do all that research for the show.

Both Sheila and Sylvia grapple with aging. What do you think is the best part of getting older, and what’s the worst?
Recovery is longer, whether it’s a workout or a walk or drinking or whatever. You just wake up and you’re like, What did I do to my shoulder? I don’t know what I did. Oh, that’s right. I’m just, I’m old. The best thing about aging is that aging is a privilege. I mean, what’s the alternative? It’s definitely challenging at times. I’m 43; I’m not 83, but I hope I will be 83 one day. 

Platonic mentions When Harry Met Sally and the question of whether men and women can be just friends. Is it easier than it’s made out to be?
I do think that as you get older, your life—if you have a family—can change, into a different sort of island. With Platonic, it more ends up about that rather than their gender, and the gender side of it is more what the other people around them are commenting on. But it is an interesting thing to think about in your own life. I think probably the younger generation thinks about it even less. But it is actually a pretty modern thing for men and women to be friends, probably only in the last 20 years. 

How do you define your sense of humor?
Very Australian—very self-demeaning, self-deprecating and never taking oneself too seriously. 

Melissa McCarthy is always getting asked about Spy 2. Would you consider a sequel?
Yeah! My character would probably be in prison. Maybe she could have got out by now. That was so fun. We got to shoot in some in-credible locations, and oh, yeah, say the word and I’d be back. 

What’s your most prized possession?
My engagement ring from Bobby [actor Bobby Cannavale]. And I have a really beautiful old robe that my paternal grandfather wore, who has since passed away. It’s broken down so many times, and I’ve had it redone with different fabrics and beautiful fabric I bought in India. So it’s become kind of a patchwork that I really love.

What do you splurge on?
The theater. And probably shoes. I’ve definitely got a shoe-slash-clothing problem.

You’re a big reader—what’s the best book you’ve read lately?
I just read a book of Susan Sontag’s essays [On Women], which was really good. Most of them were from the ’70s, so I was curious how much they would resonate, but a lot of the themes she was talking about we’re still talking about today. And then now I’m on to a book called Birnam Wood, by Eleanor Catton, a New Zealand writer.

What’s a piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you?
It’s very simple, but my mother always used to say that life is really precious and that you can’t take it for granted. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

5 Monday Must-Haves

Smeg toaster
“We eat more toast in my house than you could imagine.”

Heritage Store rosewater spray
“You can get it at any health food store, but it’s the best rose water. I just constantly do it all day.”

Swenglish by Nature granola
“I discovered it at a farmers’ market in Malibu…. Hands-down delicious.”

Nespresso machine
“They have these beautiful little ‘Paris’ pods that I discovered through my friend.”

Mouth tape
“It’s very gentle. At night I’ve been taping my mouth shut so I can breathe through my nose.”