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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen 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, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and toward the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Interactions 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 hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the components that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

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

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos 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 that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or 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.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

When I was in high school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from success. Success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.