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In a candid interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about how that character 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 about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “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 seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin 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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

What’s the most 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 turned out incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.