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Through a thoughtful interview, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled 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 as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned 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 a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. 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 toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are really present then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to 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 specific question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I still had to stay and do 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 Source 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 stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.