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During a revealing discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, first, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great way if you’re really present then. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of 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 signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

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 I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us 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 you learn from success. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.