Through a thoughtful discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.
If You Could Be a Fish for a Day
The most recent 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 it be and why?
Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.
A Film Favorite to Return To
Which movie do you always return to, and why?
Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.
The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star
What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?
I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.
Heartening Interactions with Admirers
What’s been your most touching encounter with a fan?
It’s not just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.
What do you get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?
The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, 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 think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.
A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter
What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?
I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.
The Origin of a Name
Articles have 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?
Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.
Chaos on Set
What’s the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?
When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated 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 by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach 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 was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.
A Secret Skill
Do you have a secretly good at?
I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.
The Best Guidance Given
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.