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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think 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

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It is a great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward 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 the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. 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?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, 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 comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail listing the components that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

When I was 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 such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together 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 opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.