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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight 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 with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Set

What was the 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 of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location the next day 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 a crew member opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.