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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is the monarch 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 found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great way provided you are really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

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

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

Chaos on Location

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 most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. 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 finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.