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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz 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’s such masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

The Best Insight Gained Through 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 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 what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support 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 such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be 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 identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium 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 of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from success. With success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.