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Through a thoughtful interview, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and 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 repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

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 opposite each other 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 something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, 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. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for 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 that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, 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? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the components that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

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

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were given your name from 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 christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.