The actress Discusses Perspectives on Acting, Fandom, and Unexpected Lessons.

Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

Your latest 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, the blue groper found at a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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 back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned then was, firstly, always trust the individuals you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and look at the people sharing the stage with, you will find where you’re meant to be in some way. It is a profoundly communal thing, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great way provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single particular interaction 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 about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most specific question is always about that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I provide great detail listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; 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 possible.

An Awkward Star Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat doing pilates, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker 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 the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium 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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated 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 punctually. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times they wouldn’t know the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words 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 Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from success. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.