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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to 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 that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, 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 provide great detail listing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

What’s the best 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” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.