🔗 Share this article

During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent 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 people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Return To

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. 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. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, to be watched often.

A Priceless Insight Gained Through a Fellow Actor

What’s the best lesson you took away from someone you’ve worked with?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re really present in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know what was in the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the stew – because I remember the efforts made; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Star Meeting

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced 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 just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were given your name from 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 heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos 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 most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in a distinct manner. Their concept of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different approach for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear 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 be like, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words a lot of the time, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

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

When I was in high school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, the lessons are abundant.