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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 learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent role is 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my childhood, it would air on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. 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 things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and toward the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

There isn't a single 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 meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed 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 once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

What was the 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 of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I probably would 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 secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.