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During a revealing discussion, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent role is the monarch 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, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

Which movie do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. When I was childhood, it used to come on television occasionally, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive way provided you are really present then. It can be an unexpected boon when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

What’s been 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 hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

Which questions get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the whole thing about the stew, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall the efforts made; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What was your most embarrassing run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and there was a woman on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Moniker

It’s been 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 named after the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought 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 I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work 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 sort of flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day how we were going to do it. And then I would be in during a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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

When I was in high school, a speaker addressed us as 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 you learn from triumph. Success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.