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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, 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 I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error 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 the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and look at the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

What’s been your most touching 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 stories 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.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Moniker

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. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, 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 involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. With success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.