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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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 specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped 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 the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time 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 was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

What’s been your most memorable encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one 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 how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the components that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke 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 seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress 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 wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

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 sounded like a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting or the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.