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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago 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 went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish 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 bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the instructor 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 someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been confidently claimed 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?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium 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 most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.