Rose Byrne has shared the cold-blooded reason why her longtime partner, Bobby Cannavale, isn’t attending the 2026 Golden Globes to support her nomination.
The Australian star, who is nominated this year for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, strolled the Golden Globes red carpet without her usual date on Sunday, after previously revealing that Cannavale is missing the ceremony because he has to go to a reptile convention in New Jersey.
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“Bobby can’t come, which is such a bummer,” Byrne said on Thursday’s episode of The Tonight Show, noting that Cannavale will be spending the day in “deep Jersey” instead.
Why is he going there, exactly?
“Um, so, we’re getting a bearded dragon,” Byrne announced, before turning to host Jimmy Fallon and asking, “Do you know about these animals? They’re native to Australia.”
Byrne, who shares two sons with Cannavale, seemed a bit skeptical about welcoming the new pet into their family — but she’s moving forward with it.
Todd Owyoung/NBC
“I think they’re gorgeous. I think they eat live crickets, so…” she said, shrugging. “I had a friend who had one, and she said that crickets do escape sometimes, so you can find them around the house.”
A fact that Fallon could not believe. “What are you talking about?” he asked, putting his hands to his head. “This is insane.”
Byrne explained that the expo happened to be on the same day as the Golden Globes but that it would be “such a parent fail” if the rest of the family didn’t attend to try to secure their new reptilian friend. “So we’re doing it,” she said, “and I’m on board for the dragon. It’s gonna be great.”
“Parents do anything for their kids,” Fallon replied. “I love it. Good for you.”
“He’s doing God’s work,” Byrne said of Cannavale.
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Byrne and Cannavale began dating in 2012 after meeting through mutual friends. While they haven’t officially tied the knot, they frequently refer to each other as “husband” and “wife.”
With Cannavale off trying to buy a lizard in New Jersey, Byrne will attend the Golden Globes with her brother, George, who she said looks like “Rob Pattinson meets Jacob Elordi.”
“He’s gonna come and support,” she said, “so it should be fun.”
Byrne’s Golden Globe nom is for her role in the Mary Bronstein–directed film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which follows a psychotherapist (Byrne) at her wit’s end amid an ever-growing list of professional, health, and family struggles. The movie also stars Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, A$AP Rocky, and Christian Slater.
Watch Byrne discuss her family’s quest for a bearded dragon — and showcase her impressive knowledge of Seinfeld — in the clip above.
The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+. See the full list of winners.
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