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In a candid interview, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this film. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and once I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night 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 expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the actors you’re with, you will find where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great way provided you are really present in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

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

There isn't a single 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 … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as possible.

An Awkward Star Meeting

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

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin 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 you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos 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 emerged brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not pursued acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

During my time in secondary school, someone 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 setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.