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Through a thoughtful discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight 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 together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single 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 … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to 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 question is 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 stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, 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 so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

It’s been 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?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location the next day the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might 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 high school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.