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During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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 it be and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. When I was growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s 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 also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

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 back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about how that character impacted 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 in those times.

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

The most detailed question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be 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 what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck 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 settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – 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 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 wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, 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 retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in secondary school, a speaker addressed us when 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. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.