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In a candid interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as 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 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite 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 would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out 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 the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved 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 lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. 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 intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

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

Pandemonium on Location

What was the 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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements 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 during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Given

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

When I was in secondary school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.