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Through a thoughtful discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see 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 Film Staple to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and 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’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue 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. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are really present then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of 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, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

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 of my career, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker 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 triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.