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Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was growing up, it would air on television 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 playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, first, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting 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 growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to 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 question is invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What was your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke 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 the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, 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 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 definitively?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Set

What’s the most 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 turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive 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. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, 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 memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have 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 mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from success. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.