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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near 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 folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking 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 secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, 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 think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you 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 when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, 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 Name

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

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.