Miranda Otto Shares Perspectives on Her Career, Fandom, and Unexpected Lessons.

In a candid discussion, the acclaimed performer opens up on topics ranging from her newest character as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn 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 specific question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that constituted the concoction – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Meeting

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium on Location

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of 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 very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening some champagne during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone addressed us when 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 failure than is gained from success. With success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.