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Through a thoughtful interview, the acclaimed performer reflects on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot 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 Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Co-Star

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 – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. 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 abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way provided you are really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that made up the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after 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 a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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 film emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location the next day the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open some champagne on set, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.