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During a revealing conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom 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?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, 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 found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. 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 recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements 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 you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “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 style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from success. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.