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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 gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned 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 you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about 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 completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

What’s been your most memorable encounter 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 impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to 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 specific question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

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 a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

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 least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance 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, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.