--- title: How Rose Byrne Prepared for CGI Animals in 'Peter Rabbit' description: Rose Byrne stars in Peter Rabbit, a new take on Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s stories, in theaters on Feb. 9. canonical: https://time.com/5139096/how-rose-byrne-channeled-inner-child-act-opposite-cgi-rabbits/ author: Eliza Berman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-02-08T11:29:34.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T19:11:49.198Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: How Rose Byrne Channeled Her Inner Child to Act Opposite CGI Rabbits og:description: Byrne stars in ‘Peter Rabbit,’ which comes out in theaters on Feb. 9 og:url: https://time.com/5139096/how-rose-byrne-channeled-inner-child-act-opposite-cgi-rabbits/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe7bb1b9c7e0acbc/6988fb058fd2ee75e835a99b/rose-byrne-peter-rabbit.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: rose-byrne-peter-rabbit og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Rose Byrne Channeled Her Inner Child to Act Opposite CGI Rabbits twitter:description: Byrne stars in ‘Peter Rabbit,’ which comes out in theaters on Feb. 9 twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe7bb1b9c7e0acbc/6988fb058fd2ee75e835a99b/rose-byrne-peter-rabbit.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Rose Byrne Channeled Her Inner Child to Act Opposite CGI Rabbits  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Feb 8, 2018 11:29 AM UTC  The actor, 38, stars in Peter Rabbit, a new take on Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s stories, in theaters on Feb. 9. The actor, 38, stars in Peter Rabbit, a new take on Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s stories, in theaters on Feb. 9.Getty Images  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Feb 8, 2018 11:29 AM UTC _The actor, 38, stars in_ Peter Rabbit_, a new take on Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s stories, in theaters on Feb. 9._ **What made you want to do a family film?** Having children of my own was a big motivation to do something accessible to them. I was a little girl who had rabbits, who read Beatrix Potter, who had a ceramic rabbit collection. There’s a big part of my childhood that I associate with Beatrix Potter, so I was tickled to be a part of it. **Did you have to channel your inner child?** Absolutely. I think in acting in general you do–but in particular, when you’re talking to a guy in a blue Lycra outfit while he’s holding a rake with a fake rabbit head on it, you’ve really got to suspend your disbelief. **Tell me about the filmmaking collective you co-founded to promote female-driven storytelling.** It’s a bunch of girlfriends of mine from Australia. It’s definitely a learning curve, particularly with the development phase and script work. That’s what we’re trying to do, and it takes time. But we’re dedicated and passionate about it. **Many female actors seem to be turning to producing to create better roles.** Part of the motivation \[was\] to create roles for myself–for the girls, for everybody–because there is a lack of that. It’s very obvious to everyone. But isn’t it incredible now? It’s really been such a game changer, everything that’s been revealed and exposed. I think things are changing, finally. I hope they are. **How did you feel when your movie** **_I Love You, Daddy_** **was shelved following allegations of sexual misconduct against its director, Louis CK?** I stand in solidarity with the women who came forward. It’s disappointing the film probably won’t ever be seen. But it’s great that they came forward. 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