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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest character portrays the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, 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 Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my childhood, it would air on television occasionally, 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 the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable 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 opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error 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. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present in that moment. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

There isn't 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 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 in those times.

Which questions get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific inquiry concerns always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions 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. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin 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 named after the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like 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 most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us 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 far more from failure than you learn from success. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.