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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently 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 just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character 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 during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. 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 what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin 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 clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was 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 receive a schedule and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open some champagne on set, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

What is the greatest 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” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from failure than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.