Emmanuel Itier: What was your approach about this movie? Was it more than just a science fiction ride for you?

Rose Byrne: There were so many things I had to learn about. So many people came and talked to us, which was so helpful for me because I’m not at all science oriented. It was really interesting to understand what goes through the mind of such scientists. And of course the story was amazing, and the conflicts between the characters were intense. As an actress, it was a welcomed challenge. Science used to scare me as a kid, but doing this film made me more appreciative of science. It was very educational. Also, doing the zero gravity flight to experience what it is to float in the air was quite scary. This plane we used was so small and I was very nervous. I’m not that much of a plane lover in general. We did also some scuba diving, which is supposed to be a very close sensation to being in space. For me, it was more than a ride–it was a real life experience.

EI: What was your most surprising discovery about this universe–about science?

RB: I was surprised to find out that, in it’s own way, science is some type of religion. It offers just as many answers but also just as many questions. And it’s endlessly beautiful and mystic. It’s mind blowing for me. The amount of information I got was overwhelming, and I probably retained 1% from what I learned about. Talking with Brian Cox, who was a consultant and who is a scientist, was very helpful, even though at times I could not understand at all what he was talking about.

EI: Does a film like this one put more questioning in your head about God and mankind?

RB: Yes, and we had huge philosophical conversations on the set because of the nature of what we were dealing with. And everyone has different ideas and points of view. Talking to all these scientists did put more questioning in our heads, and we were challenging them about issues such as God and where we come from, where we’re going. I think there are never enough questions to ask. This film for me is really about mankind versus nature. We are trying to save mankind in “Sunshine”, but nature says it’s over. It’s also a mind-opening tragedy about how we have abused our planet and how, indeed, we are having more and more complications with our planet. Look at how the weather pattern has changed–we are really responsible for all of this.

EI: Are you a fatalist? Do you think God is in charge of your destiny, or do you fight for your own destiny?

RB: I’m a bit of a fatalist, but not as much as I was. I was more about: “whatever happens, happens”. But now I think it’s about working hard for what you truly want. You have to believe in you and in the things you want out of life. I’m trying to get in control of my life as much as possible.

EI: What type of director is Danny Boyle?

RB: He is so inspiring and he has so much energy. He is also very patient and so collaborative. He was welcoming input from all of us. This was a real trip, in every sense of the term, to work with Danny.

EI: How was it to work with all of these men?

RB: Fortunately, I had Michelle Yeoh for a while, and this was nice. I had seen some of her movies and I think she is amazing. Michelle is very grateful and such a good friend. Working with all these men was interesting–it was very “male-like” on the set, and I had to bring out my macho side of me at times.

EI: Do you enjoy changing style when you choose to act in a film?

RB: Yes, it’s important to me to choose different roles and different types of movies. “Sunshine” is completely the opposite of “Marie Antoinette”, for example. “Sunshine” was really a unique film to be in.

EI: Where do you feel at home?

RB: I feel at home in London and in Europe. I used to live in L.A., but I never felt quite myself in this city. I prefer walking around, seeing people, and being in my car all day. But I come to L.A. from time to time for work. Also, I think London is so much edgier than L.A. in terms of fashion, music and social life. I tried New York, but it felt too much middle-of-the-road. And I have so many friends from all over the place in London. This is where I feel happy.

EI: Any wish to go back to live in Australia?

RB: Not at the moment. I like that I can live anywhere–it’s good for the mind. Leaving your own country and going to live somewhere else opens your mind and shows you the richness of the planet. But I’m about to do a project in Melbourne, “The Tender Hook”. I keep in touch with my homeland. It will be nice to spend time with my family.

EI: Any other films in the works?

RB: I just did a TV pilot in New York with Glenn Close and Ted Danson. It’s for the TV channel called FX. If the show is picked up, we will shoot again in May. Allen Coulter, who did some episodes of “The Sopranos” and “Rome”, is directing. It’s about a young girl who is out of law school and goes to work for a firm controlled by Glenn Close, and I get involved in a conspiracy bigger than myself. Ted Danson is playing a bad CEO like the one of Enron. If I get the job of doing this TV show, I will spend three months of the year in New York.

EI: What do you want for your career, in a word?

RB: In a word, I’d like to be able to continue to get roles that scare me and make me a better actress. When I get scared and uncomfortable, it somewhat helps me to learn more about my craft.

EI: What about your upcoming fame? Are you comfortable about it?

RB: Well, fame is part of my work. I’m not after fame, and I don’t really see myself as a celebrity but more as a character actress. But I admire stars out there like Judie Davis, Juliette Binoche, Jack Nicholson…and of course I admire the actors and actresses from Australia–from my country. They were pioneers in this business, and it helped me in a way. It’s very inspirational for a young girl in Australia to see familiar faces out there in Hollywood films. I had never seen so many Australians in Los Angeles.

EI: What would be your destination of choice if you could go anywhere with a space shuttle?

RB: Probably I’d like to check out the moon. It’s just a few billion kilometers away. But I would need to be braver.

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