Through a thoughtful conversation, Miranda Otto delves on topics ranging from her newest character as Queen of the Cuttlefish to the profound lessons learned through theatrical mistakes and meeting admirers.
The most recent character portrays 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, that particular fish found at a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. I just think it’s cool that a resident aquatic creature that people actually go and see and talk about – it holds a unique status.
Which movie do you always return to, and why?
The 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. During my growing up, it would air on television occasionally, and one time I videotaped it. I just thought it was hilarious. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Recently they were showing it at the Ritz and it turned out that it was also the favourite film of an acquaintance, and so we attended and just laughed repeatedly. It is a masterful work of comedy and all the actors in it are superb. The director Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not as effective. But Lubitsch's version is an exceptional farce, worth viewing often.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?
Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House with Pete – now my spouse, but at the time we were not together. We were playing as scene partners and during the premiere I stumbled – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I was unaware what I’d done but I abruptly sensed something wasn’t right. I remember looking at him, and he completely saved me, and then our performance regained momentum and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, firstly, always trust the people in your scene. When you lose where you are, by looking and look at the actors sharing the stage with, you will find your correct position somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude about it. Occasionally when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive way if you’re really present then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely awry.
What’s been your most touching encounter with a fan?
There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I am told numerous accounts about how that character impacted them when they were younger … things that had happened in their lives and the extent to which Eowyn meant to them and was some kind of help to them in those times.
What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?
The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew her character prepares for Aragorn. “Did that stew taste really that bad?” It has evolved into a running gag, the entire episode involving that dish, and all fans wish to know the contents of the pot, and its preparation method, and in your opinion she’s a better cook now, or do you believe she really is a poor chef? People are, in my view, obsessed with the humour of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the ingredients that made up the stew – because I remember what they did; like they even put bits of red cotton to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. The crew employed extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.
What’s been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?
I attended a pilates class and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the teacher said to me, “Oh, Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made some joke 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 seeing who it was. And when she got up, it was the actress Miranda Richardson. Then I didn’t know what to say. I still had to complete my class, and I felt intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know your work!” I consider she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to say anything.
Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet I’ve read stating otherwise – can you clarify this definitively?
Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and the name seemed a nice name.
What was the chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?
When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the final product emerged brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. The sense of time there is really different. In Australia, you receive a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of flexible – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times they wouldn’t know where they were shooting the next day 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 the producer popping open a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct approach to film-making.
Do you have a secretly good at?
I naturally possess an aptitude for numbers. I memorise numbers more readily than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not pursued acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like math or finance.
What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?
During my time in high school, someone came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, because you learn far more from setbacks than is gained from success. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.
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