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In a candid interview, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was growing up, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I found it was so funny. 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 the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware 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 regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally 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 absolutely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

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

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, 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 do know your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes 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 be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.