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In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. 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 the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue 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 completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you will find your correct position somehow. 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 fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton 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.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another 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 didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source 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 you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have 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 mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from success. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.