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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What was your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

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 stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio 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?

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working 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 how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than you learn from success. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.