'I'm proud to stand next to her': How Bobby Cannavale became Rose Byrne's rock

Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale share one of Hollywood's most enduring love stories. 

The two actors met through mutual friends and have kept their relationship out of the spotlight for the most part. 

Although they're not married, many fans assume they are – perhaps because they often refer to each other as 'husband' and 'wife'.

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In 2012, Byrne and Cannavale were linked for the first time, though their romance wasn't made official until the following year. 

They put months of relationship speculation to rest with a red carpet debut at the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards, strolling hand-in-hand. 

The stars' relationship has been thrown back into the spotlight during the 2026 awards season, with the Aussie star, 46, earning a suite of nominations for her role in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.

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Cannavale, 55, shared his excitement for Byrne on SiriusXM's The Julia Cunningham Show.

"I'm, like, on the sun. I'm as close to the centre of the sun as I can be," he said.

"She's been at it for a really long time. Longer than I have been in it. So it's nice to see her get her accolades ... I'm really, really just proud of her. I'm proud to stand next to her."

This week he accompanied Byrne to the Oscars, where she was nominated for the first time.

The homegrown legend narrowly missed out on Best Actress in a Leading Role, which went to Irish star Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. which she stars in opposite Paul Mescal.

Cannavale squeezed her shoulders in support as the category was called out.

Byrne also missed out on the BAFTA, but she won her first ever Golden Globe – with Cannavale missing from the audience for an unexpected reason.

"I want to thank my husband, Bobby Cannavale, who couldn't be here because he's getting a bearded dragon and he went to a reptile expo in New Jersey," Byrne quipped during her acceptance speech.

The actors have been inseparable over the years, even becoming co-stars in Annie, Adult Beginners, Spy and Seriously Red.

Byrne and Cannavale welcomed their first child three years into their relationship in February 2016.

The news broke when Cannavale appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, sharing she had given birth to their son, Rocco Robin. 

"You know, I didn't do anything ... and I'm so tired, I think I've gained 28 pounds since Monday," he joked.

"We just love the name; his middle name is [Byrne's] dad's name, Robin, and we liked the way it rang together," he said. 

While holidaying in Australia, Byrne was snapped with a diamond on her engagement finger. However, the couple never addressed the news. 

In 2017, it was announced Byrne was expecting again, and in November that year they welcomed their second son, Rafael Cannavale.

Cannavale also has an older son, Jake, from a previous relationship.

In 2020, the pair spoke to Vulture about why they refer to each other as husband and wife, despite not marrying.

"I hate all the other words! It's just easier to say 'husband and wife,'" he said. 

"'Boyfriend and girlfriend' feels so young. 'Partner' feels so sterile. What else could we say? My lover?" Cannavale asked.

"Sure. My lover, Bobby," Byrne replied.

"Who gives a s--t?!" Cannavale continued, "It's just funny what people care about."

Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, Byrne admitted life kept getting in the way of any pending nuptials.

"I keep going, 'Let's get around to it, let's do it'. And then, you know, you have a baby, and then, oh, there's another baby," she said.

"It was kind of like that for us. I love weddings, and I know people [for whom] it's an important thing, and I respect that totally.

"I guess for us it's just been, we didn't do it, we'll do it, then – no! Pandemic."

In 2022, Byrne and Cannavale starred alongside Robert De Niro in Inappropriate Behaviour, playing exes. 

We saw the pair in Ezra together, again acting as exes, though this time as divorcees attempting to co-parent their 11-year-old son with autism. 

The duo set up a home in New York City, where they raise their two young sons. 

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