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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie 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 fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin 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 you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.