The actress Discusses Perspectives on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons.

Through a thoughtful conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through 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; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy 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 once I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

What’s been your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … 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 detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor 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 most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

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

Pandemonium 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 emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear 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 caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

What’s the best 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 the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.