🔗 Share this article

During a revealing conversation, Miranda Otto reflects on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

If You Could Be a Sea Creature for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there to see it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you always return to, and why?

The 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It’s Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of a friend of mine, and so we attended and just laughed and laughed. It’s such masterful work of humor and all the actors in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, to be watched regularly.

The Best Lesson Gained Through a Co-Star

What is the most valuable 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 on opening night I tripped up – I jumped ahead some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember glancing toward him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, consistently rely on the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the people you’re with, you will find your correct position somehow. It is a profoundly collaborative endeavor, performing live. And next, to maintain a sense of fun regarding it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction if you’re fully engaged then. It may become a gift when things go absolutely awry.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

It’s not a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I am told numerous stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were younger … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which that character meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

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

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think 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 components that constituted the concoction – as I recall what they did; like they even adding pieces of red cotton to make it look like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as bad as they could.

A Cringeworthy Star Encounter

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and another participant lying down exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. 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: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of your work!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source 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 you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was christened for a district in Sydney. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a shopping centre at Miranda, and she thought seemed a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

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

While working in Brazil on Reaching for the Moon I experienced the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was rather flexible – you come on set whenever you happen to be ready. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting the next day the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and be like, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle on set, to start a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Skill

Do you have a secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I believe if I hadn’t ended up in acting, I probably would have entered a field something to do with numbers, like mathematics or finance.

The Finest Piece of Advice Ever Received

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in secondary school, someone addressed us when we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, since one gains so much more from failure than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really comprehends exactly how it happened. Failure, the lessons are abundant.