Like most good lesbians, I started watching FX’s Damages because of Glenn Close. Then I couldn’t stop watching because of, well, Glenn Close. But all along, something has seemed familiar about Australian actress Rose Byrne, who plays first-year associate Ellen Parsons at the firm owned by Close’s character, Patty Hewes.
I checked out Byrne’s IMDb profile and there it was – she was Dormé, Queen Amidala’s handmaiden, in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
OK, I’m not really that much of a Star Wars geek, but a few years ago I worked on the Star Wars Trivial Pursuit game and had to watch the movies over and over. Yes, I’m one of the ones you curse if you play that game. But I digress.
Byrne actually has been in a number of films, including 28 Weeks Later, Wicker Park and Sunshine. She was also in Troy – here she is at the premiere. I’m glad she had that thing removed.
Last week, Byrne did an interview about her character on Damages. She discussed who Ellen is and how the role has developed over the season. Most intriguing is how she saw her character change from eager, naïve associate to exhausted, blood-drenched murder suspect.
“I’d say about episodes five and six, I think Ellen is going to – her behavior is going to start changing little by little, and very subtly. It’s not going to be like, you know, a hammer in your face. But, I think, just little things that she starts to do that I’m not even sure she knows. Subconsciously, she starts to change in little ways. And it’s going to be really interesting to see exactly who she is by the end.”
Glad to hear the part about no hammers in the face. I hate that. No word from Byrne on whether she agrees with Close that their characters have a sexy relationship. Maybe next interview. And speaking of sexy:
If you’re a Damages fan, check out the new site for Hewes & Associates. And let us know what you think of the show so far.
