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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable 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

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it would air on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. 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 Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to 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 during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I attended a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were given your name from 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?

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

Chaos on Set

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 most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, 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 during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.