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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the invaluable wisdom gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?

Straight away, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight 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 with Pete – now my spouse, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. When you lose your place, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It can be a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn 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 specific inquiry concerns always about the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, fascinated by the humour of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. 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 still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Source of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter definitively?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Location

What was the 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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and you have to be on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear 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 the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Finest Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains far more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.