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In a candid conversation, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually 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 film. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “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 the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed 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?

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

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might 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?

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.