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Through a thoughtful conversation, the acclaimed performer reflects 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 Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is 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 found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars 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 attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single 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 meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support 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 the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. 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 so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

What was the 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 film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects 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 was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.