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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

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

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best 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 were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

What’s been 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 accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

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 clarify this once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, 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 being assembled at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.