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In a candid interview, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is Queen 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 residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. 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.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

Which questions get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of 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, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session 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, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. 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. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.