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In a candid discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

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 it be and why?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on television occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. 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 recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know your place, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one 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 growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.