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During a revealing conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays 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, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, 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 provide great detail describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces 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.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

What’s the most 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 they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from success. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.