A Timeline of Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne’s Decade-Long Romance

According to Vanity Fair, Byrne met Cannavale through a mutual friend when she was starring in “Damages” in 2012. When the couple started dating, Byrne’s costar Glenn Close knew right away that they were a perfect match. “The chemistry between them, it’s just so remarkable,” Close said after witnessing their relationship blossom. “Plus, they’re both kind of universally loved.”

After months of dating rumors, Byrne and Cannavale finally confirmed their relationship by attending the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards together as a couple. The “Platonic” star wore a sparkly black dress for the occasion, while the “Nurse Jackie” actor matched her in a classic black tux. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other while posing on the red carpet.

That same year, Byrne and Cannavale became costars for the first time when they both appeared in “Annie.” Since then, the stars have also acted together in the films “Adult Beginners,” “Spy,” and “Seriously Red,” as well as a stage production of “Medea.”

Byrne and Cannavale welcomed their first child together in February 2016. While appearing on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” that month, Cannavale revealed that Byrne had given birth to their son Rocco Robin. “You know, I didn’t do anything . . . and I’m so tired,” he said, before joking, “I think I’ve gained 28 pounds since Monday.” He also said Al Pacino congratulated them on the birth of their child by giving them a diaper cake. “It was so sweet. It was like a big cake made out of diapers. It was awesome,” Cannavale said.

In November 2016, the actors raised speculation they had gotten engaged after Byrne was photographed wearing a diamond ring on that finger while in Australia. The couple never addressed the rumors, however.

The couple’s second child – a son named Rafael – was born in November 2017. Weeks after his son’s arrival, Cannavale told Entertainment Tonight in December that although he and Byrne were a bit sleep deprived, they were “doing well.” He also explained why they chose the name Rafael. “I hadn’t given one of my children a Latin name yet, so I wanted to honor my mom’s side of the family,” he said, adding that it was also partially inspired by the famous tennis player Rafael Nadal. “[He] had such a great year and we were constantly keeping up with him and watching all his matches so we were like, ‘How about Rafa? That goes well with Rocco.’ And that was it.”

After being together for nearly a decade, Byrne and Cannavale told Vulture in January 2020 that they consider each other husband and wife, even though they’re not officially married. “I hate all the other words! It’s just easier to say ‘husband and wife,'” Cannavale said while discussing relationship labels. “‘Boyfriend and girlfriend’ feels so young. ‘Partner’ feels so sterile.” When Cannavale suggested the term “lover” to Byrne, she instantly played along by calling him, “My lover, Bobby.” However, at the end of the day, the stars don’t feel the need to define their relationship. “Who gives a sh*t?!” Cannavale said. “It’s just funny what people care about.”

While talking to The Sydney Morning Herald in July 2021, Byrne teased they may get married one day, but they don’t have concrete plans just yet. She explained they haven’t begun the process because they’ve just been too busy. “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. It was kind of like that for us,” she told the publication. “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.”

After hinting at marriage plans for years, Byrne confirmed to People in May that she and Cannavale will “absolutely” become wife and husband once they nail down a date. “I’m more married to him than anybody I’ve ever been with my whole life,” she said. “[It’s] definitely something that we will do. We’ll get around to it.”