Catching Up With…Darcy Rose Byrnes (ex-Abby Newman, Y&R, 2003-08)

If you’ve ever caught the YouTube video of a very young Darcy Rose Byrnes singing “The Wizard And I” from her all-time favorite musical, Wicked, she respectfully requests that you disregard that it’s Elphaba’s song.

- Devin Owens

“I’m meant to be Glinda,” declares the actress. “In November of 1998, Stephen Schwartz met with Gregory Maguire to talk about turning his book into a musical. I was born in November of 1998, so I believe I was born to play Glinda. I grew up on Wicked, I’ve seen it probably 11 or 12 times and was recognized by an Elphaba on stage just because I’d seen it so often. I’ve read the book, and have far too much Wicked-related fashion and toys, some of which I made. Also, Kristen Chenoweth [a former Glinda] follows me on Instagram. I just mentioned that because I started crying when I found out [laughs]. So, every role I’ve ever done feels like practice for that character.”

Just The Facts

Birthday: November 4, 1998

Birthplace: Burbank, CA

Just Me: Brynes is an only child. “I have a 40-something-year-old parrot named Mr. GreenBurd, who I grew up with. So, I kind of feel like I do have a sibling.”

Here And There: She has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ireland. “I even speak a little Gaeilge as well. There’s an Irish soap opera filmed in Galway called ROS NA RÚN that’d be fun to do!”

Top Highlights Of Her Career: “Making Eddie Murphy laugh and getting to work with Felicity Huffman [ex-Lynette] on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.”

Music Maker: “I play piano, guitar, a variety of ukes [ukuleles], bass, flute, tenor guitar, mandolin, auto harp, Bodhrán [drum], harp, tin whistle, a bit of accordion, and violin and fiddle.”