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Through a thoughtful conversation, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

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

Straight away, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to 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 inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I consider 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 you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

What’s the most 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 turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. 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 some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to 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 learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.