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Through a thoughtful conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

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 you choose and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great way provided you are really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that made up the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source 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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than is gained from success. Success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.