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The actress Ross Byrne was born in Balmain, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, a fact that will surprise millions of television viewers familiar with her roles in US television.

I first became aware of her in the FX legal thriller television series “Damages,” alongside Glenn Close. Her performance was widely praised, garnering nominations galore – twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2009 and 2010, and a further two for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film in 2008 and 2010. She played her role in all fifty nine episodes of the series and until its finale in September 2012.

Proving her versatility, she would subsequently branch out into comedic roles. “I was doing all of this really heavy, dramatic stuff, and I just needed a break,” she would recall. Her request was met when she obtained the role of a scandalous pop star and the on and off girlfriend of a free-spirited rock star in the comedy “Get Him to the Greek” (2010), also starring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. Her serious reputation as an actress left director Nicholas Stoller rather nonplussed at her audition but he was soon won over. The film was a commercial success, with a gross of US$60.9 million in North America. Today. at 41, she’s as busy as ever, and after two children, still struggling to find time to marry her long term partner, the actor Bobby Cannavale.