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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent role is Queen 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, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best 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 back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … 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 about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, 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 believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail describing the components that made up the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed 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 once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know 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 the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.