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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as 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

Your latest role is 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?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through 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 – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners 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 things were off. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, 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 during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “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 is gained from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.