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In a candid interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent role is Queen 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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present then. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved 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 listing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

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?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a 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 think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.