🔗 Share this article The actress Discusses Insights on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Life's Lessons. During a revealing interview, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers. Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day The most recent role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why? Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish. A Film Staple to Return To Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why? The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of comedy and the entire cast 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, to be watched often. A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Fellow Actor What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone a colleague? Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead 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 our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a really great direction provided you are really present in that moment. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry. Heartening Exchanges with Admirers Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan? There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times. What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans? The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as bad as they could. An Awkward Celebrity Meeting What was your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter? I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I was obliged to complete my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to utter a syllable. The Source of a Name Articles have confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all? Yes – I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice. Pandemonium on Set What’s the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set? When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet 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 novel approach for me. All aspects were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear the next location or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making. A Secret Skill Do you have a secretly good at? I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got that kind of a brain. So I think had I not 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’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.