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In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as 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 Sea Creature 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there 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 Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, 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 what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction 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 accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants 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? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck 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?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be 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 novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.