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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue 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 the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at 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, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present then. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” 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 how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread 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 Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “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 wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, 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 she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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 most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening some champagne on set, 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 retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.