Miranda Otto Discusses Perspectives on Acting, Fandom, and Unexpected Lessons.

During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is 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?

Straight away, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

What film 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 the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

A Priceless Insight Learned From 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 – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I recall looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the people 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 is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are really present then. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, 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 believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity 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 said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne on set, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I believe if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn so much more from setbacks than you learn from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.