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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite 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 film. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, 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 was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember 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 in that moment was, firstly, always trust the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, 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 direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the components that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.