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Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen 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, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed 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?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. 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 all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from success. Success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.