The actress Shares Perspectives on Acting, Fandom, and Unexpected Lessons.

Through a thoughtful interview, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen 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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn 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 inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is 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 someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

It’s been confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced 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 unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

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 they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.