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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is 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, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From 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 with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to 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 question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

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 settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary 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. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.