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During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the invaluable wisdom learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest character portrays 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, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable 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

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a great piece of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

What is the most valuable 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 portrayed characters opposite each other and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know your place, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a really great direction if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Fans

Can you describe your most memorable encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the components that made up the stew – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for words. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know 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 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 once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for the Sydney suburb. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at that location, and she thought 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 for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set of my career, and yet the final product turned out brilliantly. But the local crew operated in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather open ended – 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 sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening some champagne on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Talent

What are you secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I’ve just got a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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 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 triumph. With success, one rarely comprehends exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.