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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen 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 residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much 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 inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck 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 definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos 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 least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear 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 understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.