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In a candid discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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 it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot 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

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. 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 the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, firstly, always trust the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are really present then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants 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 poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the components that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is 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 wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

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 stating otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting 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 excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different 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 learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.