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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps 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; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and 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 went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

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 as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous 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 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 her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the components that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name 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 words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck 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 I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Location

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 turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Guidance Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.