🔗 Share this article

During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen 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?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – since it is like an institution, and individuals visit to see it. I just think as remarkable that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC occasionally, and once I recorded it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It is a masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But the original film is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best 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 with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not together. 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 what I’d done but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals you’re working with. If you don’t know your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And secondly, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Admirers

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

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character signified for them and was a form of support to them during those periods.

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

The most detailed question is always about the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and all fans wish 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 believe she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, obsessed with the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the components that constituted the stew – because I remember what they did; such as put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to render it as unappetizing as they could.

An Awkward Star Encounter

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

I was at a fitness session and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made some joke inquiring, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of your work!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Name

It’s been confidently claimed that you were given your name from Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?

Yes – I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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 I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out incredibly well. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is unique. Typically, you receive a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was rather open ended – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were all coming together at the final moment, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s the producer popping open some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Hidden Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Given

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

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us as we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from failure than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.