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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

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, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing 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 during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great way if you’re really present then. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

It’s been 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. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out 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’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

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 as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.