Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale star in Domain's spring campaign

You might know Australian actor Rose Byrne from Bridesmaids and Bad Neighbours and her long-term American actor partner, Bobby Cannavale, from Nine Perfect Strangers and The Watcher. Or, maybe you recognise the couple from Domain’s latest campaign, where they’ve joined forces to play roles that plenty of us will recognise: the determined house hunters.

This isn’t based on a fantastical Hollywood script but is a scenario familiar to many across the country. For property-obsessed Aussies, home ownership is the dream. In the campaign, Byrne and Cannavale use unusual (but amusing) tactics to gather as much intel as possible – median house prices, suburb metrics and recently sold prices – to give themselves the upper hand come purchasing time. It’s based on new research by Domain that shows nine out of 10 recent buyers have resorted to an “unusual” tactic to secure a home.

We chatted with the pair about their own property journey – from their much-loved family homes, for Byrne in Sydney’s Balmain and, for Cannavale, Union City in the US state of New Jersey – to their first share houses and foray into the property market.

It turns out that, even though they’re Hollywood heavyweights, the fundamentals of home are the same. Whether it’s Sydney or London, New Jersey or New York; it doesn’t really matter where you are, home is who you share it with.

Tell us about your childhood homes. What did you love about them, and what do you miss the most?

Bobby: I grew up in a working-class neighbourhood in New Jersey called Union City. Growing up, every single person that we knew lived in apartment buildings, usually four storeys with some kind of business on the ground floor. My building had a laundromat, which we used, and it later became a pizzeria, which was a really fun hangout when I was 10-13 years old – more fun than the laundromat.

We lived in a tiny two-bedroom, one-bath home with a little kitchen that we ate in, and what we called the TV room, which was just big enough for a couch, TV console and record player.

My grandparents lived in the apartment next door, which we went back and forth to via the fire escape out the kitchen window. Downstairs from ours and my grandparents’ apartment were two sets of aunts, uncles and cousins, so we all practically lived on those fire escapes.

In the summers, all the cousins ate dinner together on the fire escape while the grown-ups ate inside and listened to records. This was, of course, all before internet, cell phones and cable television. A simpler time, really, and a time I look back on fondly.

I miss an atmosphere in which there were fewer distractions. If you wanted to see a friend you had to walk to their building and scream their name out at the top of your lungs. I miss that.

Rose: Growing up in Balmain [Sydney, NSW], I loved that it was a destination. You don’t drive through Balmain to get anywhere, you decided to visit, which made it feel more special. [I loved] being near the Sydney harbour and being able to get a ferry to go to school or town or the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Can you tell us about your first rental property or share house experience?

Bobby: My first rental apartment was in the West Village in New York City in 1991. It was a teeny-tiny, five-storey walk-up studio apartment with a teeny fridge and a teeny shower and not a single closet. It was, what’s the word … disgusting. I was 21 and not a very tidy young man. I did, however, live above a great record store and right across the street from Mondo Cane, a live music venue and bar where I first saw Peter Dinklage performing with his punk rock band, Whizzy.

Rose: Mine was a rental in Newtown [Sydney] with two friends. It was so fun … too much fun.

What about your first home purchase?

Rose: At 25, my sister and I bought a fixer-upper in deep Hackney [London] which was very exciting. We bought there before the East London market started to boom.

Have you ever done anything unusual to secure a property you were interested in buying?

Rose: No, but I wish I had been more bold with some real estate choices. I feel like if you miss out [on a property] it was never meant to be yours in the first place.

What’s a must-have for you in a home?

Bobby: Light. Lots of light. And outdoor space. And I kinda like heated floors if I’m getting greedy.

Rose: A good vibe and some high ceilings.

What do you look for in a neighbourhood before deciding to buy in that area?

Bobby: Good cafes, kids running around, one good bar within walking distance, and the A train.

What made you purchase your current home? What do you love about it?

Rose: Like all things we do, it was … rather impulsive – we bought it from friends. We loved the neighbourhood, it came with such warmth.

What does the idea of “home” mean to each of you?

Rose: Somewhere where we are all together.

Bobby: Home is Rose, Rocco, Rafa [Byrne and Cannavale’s two sons] and me. And Jake [Bobby’s son] on Sunday for dinner.

What’s your favourite place to live in the world and why?

Bobby: I already live in my favourite place in the world, New York City. Bob Dylan calls it the capital of the world and I believe it. It’s not even an American thing, it’s a New York thing.

Rose: Sydney and New York. We are very, very lucky to be able to do both.

Know what we know

All the latest insights so you can make the right move when it comes to property

Discover Suburb Insights