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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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 residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of humor 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 a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I abruptly sensed 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. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred 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 specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after 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 named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, 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 really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne on set, to start a party.” The result was 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 learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. Success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.