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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, 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, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.