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In a candid conversation, the acclaimed performer reflects on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is 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 a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 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 just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at 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, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark 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 hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

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 least organized set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.