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In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could 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 individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered 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 comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director 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 Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward 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 expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. When you lose 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 collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants 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 poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think 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 named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Location

What’s the most 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 of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.