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In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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 at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re really present in that moment. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single 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 the extent to which that character signified for 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 detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, 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, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; such as 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 possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium 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 least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, 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 wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

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 when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid 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. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.