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In a candid discussion, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character 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 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, that particular fish found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think 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 Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. 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 Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched often.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know 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 what I learned then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about what Eowyn impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

Which questions get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide great detail describing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “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 Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. Typically, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. All aspects were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location or the methodology. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue a lot of the time, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think 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 Piece of Advice Given

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

When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from success. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.