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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward 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 completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted 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. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, 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 most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

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

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall 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?

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.