🔗 Share this article

Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto opens up on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons gleaned from theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature 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 you choose and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that there’s a local fish that people actually seek out and discuss – it holds a unique status.

A Film Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this film. During my growing up, it used to come on television occasionally, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was also the favourite film of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It’s such masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are fantastic. Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – my husband now, but back then we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. However, I believe what I learned then was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and toward the people sharing the stage with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It is a profoundly communal thing, performing live. And next, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are really present in that moment. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn impacted them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” 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 think she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that situation. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that constituted the stew – as I recall what they did; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to render it as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy celebrity encounter?

I attended a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, this is Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and often when I meet another Miranda, they’re a journalist. I wasn’t really identified her. And as she rose, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know what to say. I was obliged to complete my class, and I experienced so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I consider her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Origin of a Name

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 christened for a district in Sydney. My mother heard on the radio that they were opening a mall at that location, and she thought sounded like a nice name.

Chaos on Location

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set of my career, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear 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 they wouldn’t know the next location the next day how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Ah, it was a crew member opening a bottle during filming, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.

A Hidden Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I memorise words a lot of the time, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I think had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Best Guidance Ever Received

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 they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. With success, one rarely understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.