The actress Discusses Perspectives on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons.

During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her latest role 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; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite 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 growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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 back then we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great way if you’re really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall 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 for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather 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 final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.