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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest 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 a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward 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 in that moment was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. 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?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

Which questions get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific question is always about 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 whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the components that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck 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 heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium 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 that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day 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 a crew member popping open a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess 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 if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

During my time in high school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.