In a candid conversation, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her latest role as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons gleaned from onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.
Your latest role is Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would you choose and why?
Without hesitation, the blue groper found at Clovelly beach – because it’s a local landmark, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. It strikes me as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and discuss – it holds a unique status.
Which movie do you repeatedly watch, and why?
The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. When I was childhood, it used to come on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at the Ritz and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and just laughed and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t as effective. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.
What is the most valuable lesson you took away from someone a colleague?
I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but back then we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I tripped up – I skipped forward a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised something wasn’t right. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then our performance took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think what I learned in that moment was, first, consistently rely on the people in your scene. When you lose your place, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be in some way. It’s such collaborative endeavor, performing live. And secondly, just to have a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great direction provided you are fully engaged then. It can be a gift when things go absolutely awry.
Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?
There isn't just one particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of stories about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was a form of support to them in those times.
What do you get asked about the most by Lord of the Rings fans?
The most specific inquiry concerns invariably regarding that infamous meal her character prepares for Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It’s become a running gag, the whole thing involving that dish, and everyone wants to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? Fans seem, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I provide lengthy descriptions listing the ingredients that made up the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed great detail to render it as unappetizing as possible.
What was your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?
I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down doing pilates, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “might you be a journalist?” Because it’s an unusual name and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly identified her. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I was at a loss for words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to say: “Goodness, I am aware of who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.
Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?
Yes – I was christened for a district in Sydney. Mum learned via broadcast that they were inaugurating a mall at that location, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.
What was the chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?
While working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon I experienced the most chaotic 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 really different. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of flexible – you come on set at one's convenience. It was a novel way of working for me. All aspects were all coming together at the final moment, and sometimes they wouldn’t know where they were shooting or the methodology. And then I would be in the middle of a scene and be like, “What caused that sound that disturbed the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening some champagne during filming, to start a party.” It turned out great, but wow, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.
Do you have a secretly good at?
I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I memorise words often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or accounting.
What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?
During my time in high school, a speaker addressed us when we were graduating and they said, “don’t be afraid to fail” … which I think is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from success. Success, you never really understand exactly how it happened. With failure, you learn abundant.
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