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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

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 love 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 stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great way provided you are really present in that moment. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

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

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name 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 still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

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 named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

What’s the most 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 turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.