Miranda Otto Shares Perspectives on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons.

Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing 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 is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

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

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark 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 seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source 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 I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

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 the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.