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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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?

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 people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast 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 learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often 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. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

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. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might 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?

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.