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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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?

Straight away, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Star Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down 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 uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Yes – 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 sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “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 great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest 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 when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.