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During a revealing conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent character portrays 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian 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 attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help 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 has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, 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; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Meeting

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

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

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 stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.