Rose Byrne

My parents were so relaxed by the time I was growing up that I got away with a lot more.

It's important to have female solidarity and support each other and other actresses.

Where I am now, you're very much at everybody else's mercy. You have no control over your career in a lot of ways. It's just important to know what your own goals are, because that's empowering.

I'm ambitious but I'm not particularly competitive. I'll try to get roles, as I think it's healthy to go for things, but... I think there's too much competition between women already. It's important to have female solidarity and support each other and other actresses.

Being an actor is mostly about rejection and being out of work. It was a fast lesson in all of that stuff.

You know, I'm Australian, so I'm not too flashy or glitzy... I've stopped dressing for other people. If I think I look good, that's the most important thing.

I see myself more as a character actress than a celebrity.

I'm the youngest of four, and I'm always the clown - making the jokes, wanting attention.

I liked the Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest and Cypress Hill.

They think I'm depressed because I look serious in photos. It's usually because I'm just nervous. But I've stopped dressing for other people. If I think I look good, that's the most important thing.

I often do very serious roles, but really I am a big clown.

I loved performing; I was always trying to impress my siblings by being a clown. I think that came from being the runt of the litter.