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In a candid conversation, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned 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 together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees 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 Eowyn 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 always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos 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 least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated 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 rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. 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 where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not pursued 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?

When I was in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.