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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

What’s been 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 accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much 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 specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail listing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed 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?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location 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 popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us 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 so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.