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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons 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; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you took away 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 were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than you learn from success. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.