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

If You Could Be 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 found at Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and people go there to see it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it used to come on the ABC every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We were playing opposite each other and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. However, I believe what I learned in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the people you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged in that moment. It may become a gift when things go completely awry.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

What’s been your most touching encounter with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

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

The most specific question is always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the whole thing about the stew, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like blood vessels in the meat. The crew employed great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

An Awkward Celebrity Encounter

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I attempted some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Indeed, I was named after a district in Sydney. Mum heard on the radio that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and the name seemed a pleasant choice.

Pandemonium 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 most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and you have to be on set by a certain time. But this was rather flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know the next location the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open a bottle on set, because he’s making a party.” The result was great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I learn dialogue 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 probably would have worked in involving numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

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

During my time in secondary school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “don’t be afraid to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn far more from failure than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.