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Through a thoughtful discussion, 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 Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen 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?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable 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 stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees 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 a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew 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 how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Star Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck 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 you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

When I was 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 incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was 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 approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak 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. Success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.