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In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

Your latest 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?

Without hesitation, the blue groper residing near a specific shoreline – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Cinematic Favorite to Return To

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I found it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were playing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

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

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, firstly, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, acting on stage. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present then. It can be a gift when things go completely awry.

Heartening Interactions with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about how that character impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which 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 that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and how was it made, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a bad cook? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into lengthy descriptions describing the components that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to extreme measures to render it as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

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

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Oh, Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I attempted a lighthearted remark inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they’re a journalist. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

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 clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Chaos on Set

What was the chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged incredibly well. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is really different. Typically, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear the next location the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s the producer opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but wow, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers more readily than I memorise words often, 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 mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Given

What is the greatest 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” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from failure than is gained from success. Success, one rarely comprehends precisely why it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.