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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish 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 it be and why?

Straight away, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – 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 people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s 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 an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

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 as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

What’s been your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces 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 Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really 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 intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know 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 you saying 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 inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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 final product turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.