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Through a thoughtful discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays 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 found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet 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 someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. 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 what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name 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 that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location 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 disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.