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Through a thoughtful interview, 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 Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays the monarch 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Insight 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 alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error 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 the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present then. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

What’s been your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to 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 detailed question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing 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 poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

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 definitively?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together 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 wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.