Miranda Otto Shares Insights on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Gifts.

In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto opens up 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 Fish 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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing 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 and laughed. It’s such masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error 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 proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode 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 bad cook? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated 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?

Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense 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 at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then I would 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 on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.