🔗 Share this article

During a revealing discussion, Miranda Otto reflects on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish 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, the blue groper residing near Clovelly beach – since it is a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Favorite to Revisit

Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we went and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of humor and the entire cast in it are fantastic. The director Mel Brooks did a remake in the 1980s – which was not successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, to be watched regularly.

A Priceless Lesson Learned From a Co-Star

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

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not together. We were playing opposite each other and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware of my error but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and went really, really well. However, I believe the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the people you’re working with. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you will find your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And secondly, just to have a sense of fun regarding it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a really great way if you’re fully engaged in that moment. It may become a gift when things go absolutely the wrong way.

Heartening Exchanges with Admirers

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

It’s not just one specific meeting but when I meet fans of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and how much that character signified for them and was some kind of help to them during those periods.

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

The most specific question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become such a joke, the entire episode involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the stew, and how was it made, and in your opinion her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – 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 unappetizing as they could.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

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

I attended a pilates class and another participant lying down doing pilates, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Goodness, I do know your work!” I consider her talent is immense and I was just too starstruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

It’s been repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a shopping centre at that location, and the name seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

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

While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the final product turned out incredibly well. But they just work in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, 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 really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the final moment, and sometimes the plan was unclear the next location or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer popping open a bottle during filming, to start a party.” It turned out excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different style of film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been good with numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I likely might have worked in involving numbers, like math or accounting.

The Best Guidance Given

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

When I was in secondary school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and they said, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than you learn from success. Success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn so much more.