Miranda Otto Discusses Insights on Acting, Devoted Fans, and Unexpected Gifts.

During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through 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; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. 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 – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Fellow Actor

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

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 as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

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

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in 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 poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that made up the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read 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 shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium 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 incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.