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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish 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 you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable 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?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients 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. They went to extreme measures to render it as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a nice name.

Chaos 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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.