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During a revealing interview, the acclaimed performer delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re really present then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for 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 inquiry concerns always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, 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 her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another 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 was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on 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 such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was 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, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from success. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.