Miranda Otto Reveals Perspectives on Her Career, Fandom, and Unexpected Gifts.

In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was growing up, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

What’s been 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 hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

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 christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting or the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.