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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role 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

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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, 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 Staple to Return To

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 childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

What’s been your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been 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 once and for all?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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 least organized set of my career, and yet the final product 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 must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.