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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently 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 simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners 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 the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are really present then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have 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 settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are so much more.