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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently 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 humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then 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 of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much 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 specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, 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? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

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

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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 turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location 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 just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.