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In a candid conversation, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present then. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … 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 question is invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour 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 red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after 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 christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, 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 for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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 stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.