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During a revealing 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.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing 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 masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt 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 utter a syllable.

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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre 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 that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – 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 the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.