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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

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 was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help 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 that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

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 you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

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 that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense 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 really different approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.