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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be 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. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re really present then. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn 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 detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for 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 what was in the pot, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time 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 stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

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 I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and the name seemed 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 film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. 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. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location the next day how we were going to do it. 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 popping open some champagne on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier 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 probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.