The actress Discusses Insights on Acting, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons.

In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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?

Straight away, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue 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 took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and toward the actors you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction if you’re really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants 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 poor chef? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide great detail describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall the efforts made; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the instructor said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete 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 utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed 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 the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Finest Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.