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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is 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 holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through 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 with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, 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 direction if you’re really present in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans 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 … 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 specific question is always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

What’s the most 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 final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, 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 wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you 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’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.