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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it used to come on television occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

What’s been your most memorable 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 what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

It’s been confidently claimed 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 once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

What’s the best 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 the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.