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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen 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, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian 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 attended and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Star Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

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 settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

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 I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in high school, a speaker 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 is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.