The actress Discusses Insights on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons.

Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is Queen 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, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t 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 you’ve worked with?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines 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 the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much 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 detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. 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 simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. 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 still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for 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 Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a call sheet 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 novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue 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 worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.