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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish 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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners 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 something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, 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 think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck 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 you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept 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 really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.