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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish 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 a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through 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 alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made 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 identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. 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 Source 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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, 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 for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects 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 wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.