The actress Reveals Insights on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Unexpected Gifts.

In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended 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 the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best 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 together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects 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 during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued 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?

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from success. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.