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In a candid discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my 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 the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for 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 question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of 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 comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s 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 the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

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 you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

What’s the most 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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – 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 they wouldn’t know 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 just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might 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 they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from success. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.