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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

What’s been your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

Which questions get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

What’s the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.