Old Hollywood glamour was the core inspiration for Rose Byrne’s glam at the 2026 Golden Globes. “An event like the Globes is a total departure from my real life,” the actor—nominated for best actress for her role in the heartbreaking If I Had Legs I’d Kick You— tells Vogue exclusively. “It’s fun to work with my team to create a whole cohesive vision.”
The red carpet vision started with a custom emerald green draped silk gown from Chanel, embroidered with glass pearls and crystals: the more than 4,660 embroidered elements took 210 hours (almost nine days!) to create. “Matthieu [Blazy] has brought such freshness to Chanel while still retaining its iconic chicness,” Byrne says. “I loved the beautiful, simple elegance of the dress with such a bold color. It’s a very unique and very Chanel combination. I loved the details of the back of the dress, too, and the hint of drama with the train.” For jewelry, Byrne’s look included two pieces from Chanel’s Tweed Collection (the Frangé Earrings and Brodé ring), along with an 18K white gold Motif Russe bracelet.
When it came to the perfect matching glam, Byrne brought on longtime makeup artist James Molloy. “We took inspiration from the 1940s, focusing on elegance with an ease of wear, and that keeps the look feeling modern,” he says, adding that ease of wear was the focus. “It’s always about balance. The outfit, hair, and jewelry naturally guide the direction of the makeup, but how the makeup makes you feel is just as important.”
Byrne agrees. “I have gotten older, I find it fun to lean into that with red carpet moments, to create a whole cohesive vision from gown to glam.” She adds that Molloy has taught her something important about glam, whether it’s red carpet-level or for every day. “Eyebrows are so crucial in framing the face, and James always does such beautiful work.”
But you can’t channel Old Hollywood without a red lip. “The shape is intentionally softened with a blurred edge, which makes the color feel more wearable and modern while keeping its elegance,” Molloy says. “A diffused red instantly brightens the entire face, especially when paired with youthful, luminous skin. The complexion acts as a fresh canvas, allowing the lip to feel confident, effortless, and beautifully elevated.”
When it comes to her role in If I Had Legs, the mother of two did a lot of research, speaking to mothers who were in a similar situation as her character, Linda. “I spoke to many mothers of kids with special needs in my research, which was a true honor—to hear the varied experiences and impacts on these women’s lives and mental health and how there is not enough support or dialogue around this,” Byrne says. “It has forever changed my perspective on motherhood.”
There’s one piece of advice she especially treasures—and wants to share with other mothers, too. “Get them to bed. Early.” And with that, goodnight.
