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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently 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 repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember 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, 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 you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

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 attempted a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged 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 Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after 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. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Chaos 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 final product emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, 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 more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best 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, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.