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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, 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 talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and 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 went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I recall looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction but when I meet fans 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 signified for 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 invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made 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 identified her. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I consider 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 once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

When I was working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains far more from failure than you learn from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are so much more.