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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest 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?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or how we were going to do it. 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 a crew member opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe 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 is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.