Rose Byrne: ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ & Oscar Buzz for Stressful New Film

Move over, Uncut Gems: there’s a hot new contender for the title of most stressful movie ever made. Rose Byrne’s performance in Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a masterclass in portraying quiet desperation, and it’s earning the Australian actress the widest recognition of her two-decade career.

The film, which premiered at Sundance in 2025, has resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike, culminating in an Oscar nomination for Byrne. It’s a nomination that feels both deserved and, perhaps, a little overdue for an actress who has consistently delivered compelling performances across a diverse range of genres. “The film is still unravelling for me,” Byrne told the Irish Times. “That’s kind of never happened to me before. That’s why it’s so great to see it with an audience. I keep learning new things about it.”

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You centers on Linda, a psychotherapist struggling to care for her daughter with a pediatric feeding disorder. Bronstein’s script, described by Byrne as “incendiary,” doesn’t shy away from the raw, exhausting realities of motherhood and the quiet anxieties that can consume a person. The film’s unsettling atmosphere, punctuated by jarring sounds and a claustrophobic camera, mirrors Linda’s internal state, immersing the viewer in her mounting stress.

Byrne’s nomination places her in contention with Jessie Buckley, who received a Golden Globe for her performance in Hamnet. While Buckley is currently considered the frontrunner, the recent trend of Oscar wins for serio-comic performances – Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Emma Stone in Poor Things, and Mikey Madison in Anora – suggests that Byrne has a legitimate chance.

The path to this moment has been a long and varied one. Byrne first gained attention in the U.S. With roles in films like The Dead Girl and 28 Weeks Later, and her breakout television role came with the FX series Damages, earning her two Emmy nominations. She’s proven her versatility, seamlessly transitioning between horror (the Insidious franchise), broad comedy (Bridesmaids, Spy), and more dramatic fare.

Her role as an aerobics instructor in the Apple TV+ series Physical, which ran from 2021 to 2023, is now viewed as a precursor to the complexity she brings to Linda in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. The role showcased her ability to blend dark humor with genuine emotional vulnerability, a skill that is on full display in Bronstein’s film.

The accolades for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You have been piling up. In addition to the Oscar nomination, Byrne has received awards from the Los Angeles and New York Film Critics Circles, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Breakthrough Performance Award. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin International Film Festival, a prize previously awarded to acting legends like Gena Rowlands, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep. “I was so emotional about winning the Silver Bear,” Byrne said. “I honestly couldn’t believe it.”

The film’s success is also a win for director Mary Bronstein, whose previous feature, Yeast, garnered critical acclaim. Bronstein’s husband, Ron Bronstein, co-wrote the Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme, making them one of the most talked-about couples in this year’s awards season.

Byrne’s ability to navigate the demands of the role was particularly impressive, given the film’s quick, month-long shoot. The production demanded a constant emotional escalation from the entire cast, including A$AP Rocky, Christian Slater, and a scene-stealing performance from Conan O’Brien. “My adrenaline was so high doing the film,” Byrne explained. “It was very quick and it was a high-wire act, just finding the comedy, finding the nuance, finding the horror.”

Beyond the awards buzz, Byrne’s career continues to evolve. She’s set to star in the TV adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s novel, The Good Daughter, and will return to the stage in a Broadway revival of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels in March. Her journey from early roles to critical acclaim demonstrates a dedication to her craft and a willingness to take on challenging, complex characters.

“Acting has to be intuitive,” Byrne says. “When it becomes too cerebral, then it doesn’t work. No matter what the role, it’s all about the feelings.” And in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Byrne delivers those feelings with a raw, unflinching honesty that is captivating and deeply affecting.