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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Straight away, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward 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 completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re really present then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of 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? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “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 identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of 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 confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.