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Through a thoughtful conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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 Clovelly beach – since it is 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 discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, 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 awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

What’s been your most memorable interaction 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 accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred 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 detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged 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 punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from success. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.