Miranda Otto | |
|---|---|
 Otto at the 2016San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | (1967-12-16)16 December 1967 (age 57) Brisbane,Queensland, Australia |
| Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Éowyn inThe Lord of the Rings |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Barry Otto (father) |
| Relatives | Gracie Otto (half-sister) |
Miranda Otto (born 16 December 1967) is an Australian actress. She is the daughter of actorsBarry and Lindsay Otto and the paternal half-sister of actressGracie Otto. Otto began her acting career in 1986 at age 18 and appeared in a variety of independent and major studio films in Australia. She made her major film debut inEmma's War in 1987 in which she played a teenager who moves to Australia's bush country duringWorld War II.[1]
After a decade of critically acclaimed roles in Australian films, Otto gained Hollywood's attention during the 1990s after appearing in supporting roles in the filmsThe Thin Red Line andWhat Lies Beneath. She rose to fame in the early 2000s for playingÉowyn inPeter Jackson'sThe Lord of the Rings film series, based on theclassic fantasy novel of the same name by English authorJ. R. R. Tolkien.
Otto was born on 16 December 1967[2] inBrisbane and was raised there and inNewcastle. She briefly lived inHong Kong following her parents' divorce at age six.[3] She spent weekends and holidays with her father in Sydney and developed an interest in acting through him.[4]
During her childhood, Otto and her friends wrote scripts and designed costumes and flyers in their spare time.[5] She appeared in several plays at theNimrod Theatre, which attracted the attention ofcasting director Faith Martin. Subsequently, Otto received a role in the 1986 World War II dramaEmma's War.[4]
She had wanted to be aballerina but was forced to abandon this goal due to moderatescoliosis.[3] Otto graduated from theNational Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney in 1990.[6] Prior to graduation, she appeared in minor film roles includingInitiation (1987) andThe 13th Floor (1988).[7]
Otto's first post-graduation film role in 1991, as Nell Tiscowitz inThe Girl Who Came Late, was her breakthrough role which brought her to the attention of the Australian film industry and the general public. In the film, directed by Kathy Mueller, she starred as a young woman who could communicate with horses. Her appearance garnered Otto her firstAustralian Film Institute nomination for the best actress award the following year.[8]
Otto's next role was inThe Last Days of Chez Nous (1991), which portrayed the complex relationships between the members of an Australian family. The film earned Otto her second Australian Film Institute nomination, this time for the best supporting actress award.[8]
In 1993, Otto co-starred withNoah Taylor in the sexually provocative comedy filmThe Nostradamus Kid, which was based on the memories of authorBob Ellis during the 1960s. Otto was drawn to the film because she was "fascinated by the period and the people who came out of it".[9] A small role in the independent filmSex Is a Four Letter Word followed in 1995.[10]
In 1995, she began to doubt her career choice as she failed to get the parts for which she auditioned. She retreated to her home inNewcastle for almost a year, during which she painted her mother's house.[6] In 1996, directorShirley Barrett cast Otto as a shy waitress in the filmLove Serenade. She played Dimity Hurley, a lonely young woman who competes with her older sister Vicki-Ann for the attention of a famous DJ fromBrisbane. She starred in the 1997 filmsThe Well andDoing Time for Patsy Cline. When Otto received the film script forThe Well, she refused to read it, fearing that she would not get the part. Otto believed that she could not convincingly play the role of Katherine, who is supposed to be 18, as she was 30 at the time.[6] The film, directed by Samantha Lang, starred Otto as a teenager involved in a claustrophobic relationship with a lonely older woman.The Well received mixed reviews; critic Paul Fisher wrote that Otto's performance was not "convincing" as she was "playing another repetitious character about whom little is revealed", while Louise Keller stated that Otto had delivered "her best screen performance yet."[11] Otto earned her third Australian Film Institute nomination for the film.[8] Later that year, she co-starred withRichard Roxburgh in the dramaDoing Time for Patsy Cline. The low-budget Australian film required Otto to performcountry music standards and also received mixed reviews from film critics.[12]
Soon after the release ofThe Well andDoing Time for Patsy Cline, magazines and other media outlets were eager to profile the actress. In 1997, Otto began dating herDoing Time for Patsy Cline co-star Richard Roxburgh. Her involvement with Roxburgh made her a regular subject of Australiantabloid magazines and media at the time, a role to which she was unaccustomed.[13]
Otto's next project was the romantic comedyDead Letter Office (1998). The film was Otto's first with her father,Barry, who makes a brief appearance.In the Winter Dark, directed by James Bogle, followed later that year. Otto played Ronnie, a pregnant woman recently abandoned by her boyfriend. The film was a critical success in Australia, and Otto was nominated for her fourth Australian Film Institute Award.[8] A small role inThe Thin Red Line (1998) led to further film roles outside of Australia,[14] such as in Italy, where she co-starred as Ruth in the low-budget Italian filmLa volpe a tre zampe ("The Three-legged Fox"),[15] produced in 2001 and broadcast for the first time on Italian television in March 2009.[16]
Otto's firstHollywood role was thesuspense thrillerWhat Lies Beneath in 2000. She played Mary Feur, a mysterious next-door neighbour.[17]
In 2001, she was cast as anaturalist in the comedyHuman Nature. WriterCharlie Kaufman, impressed by her audition two years earlier for his filmBeing John Malkovich, arranged for Otto to audition and meet with the film's directorMichel Gondry.[18] Critic Jeffrey M. Anderson criticised Otto's French accent and wrote that she "doesn't seem to mesh with what's going on around her".[19]
Also in 2001, Otto appeared in theBBC adaptation ofAnthony Trollope'sThe Way We Live Now, as a strong-willed American Southerner.[20]
In 1999, Otto was cast asÉowyn inThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy, afterUma Thurman turned down the role.[21] DirectorPeter Jackson cast her immediately after viewing the audition video she had filmed in Australia.[22] For the role, Otto spent six weeks learning stunt choreography and horse riding.[23] Otto's character was introduced in the trilogy's second filmThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2002 and appeared in the third film,The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the following year.The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a critical and financial success, and the third film won theAcademy Award forBest Picture in 2004.[24] Otto's performance earned her anAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films nomination forBest Supporting Actress.
Otto's next project was playing the lead in the Australian filmDanny Deckchair (2003). She then took on the Australian televisionminiseriesThrough My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story (2004). The film is a drama that portrays the story ofLindy Chamberlain, who was wrongfully convicted in 1982 of killing her baby daughter, Azaria, in one of the country's most publicized murder trials. Otto was cast as Chamberlain, and her husband,Peter O'Brien, was cast as prosecutor Ian Barker. She was drawn to the role because it provided her with the "prospect of exploring an unconventional character."[25] At the 2005Logie Awards, Otto won Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role.[26]
DirectorSteven Spielberg, impressed by Otto's performance inThe Lord of the Rings, called her to ask if she would play oppositeTom Cruise in the big-budget science fiction filmWar of the Worlds (2005). Otto, pregnant at the time, believed she would have to turn down the role, but the script was reworked to accommodate her. After giving birth to her daughter, she took a rest from films to concentrate on motherhood and theatre roles in Australia.[1]
In 2007, Otto starred as Cricket Stewart, the wife of a successful director, in the television miniseriesThe Starter Wife.[27] That same year, she was cast in the American television seriesCashmere Mafia. In the series she plays Juliet Draper, a successful female executive who must rely on her friends to juggle the demands of a career and family in New York City.[28] Otto chose to star in the series because "American television at the moment is so interesting and, particularly, the characters for women are so fantastic" and she "liked the idea of having a character over a long period of time and developing it."[29] The series was cancelled in May 2008.[30]
In 2013 Otto played the role of American poet Elizabeth Bishop oppositeGlória Pires in Brazilian directorBruno Barreto’sReaching for the Moon.[31]
Otto starred oppositeStephanie Sigman andAnthony LaPaglia in the horror prequelAnnabelle: Creation, directed byDavid F. Sandberg.[32] The film was released on 12 August 2017.[33] She portrayedZelda Spellman in Netflix'sChilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020).[34]
On 31 May 2020, Otto joinedJosh Gad'sYouTube seriesReunited Apart, which reunites the cast of popular films through video-conferencing and promotes donations to non-profit charities, with her fellowLord of the Rings cast and crew members.[35]
On 13 November 2023, Otto was announced for ABC drama seriesLadies In Black.[36] In 2024, Otto reprised her role asÉowyn fromPeter Jackson'sThe Lord of the Rings film series in theanimefantasy filmThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, aprequel directed byKenji Kamiyama, to which she served as thenarrator.[37]
Otto made hertheatrical debut in the 1986 production ofThe Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant for theSydney Theatre Company.[38] Three more theatrical productions for the Sydney Theatre Company followed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2002, she returned to the stage playingNora Helmer inA Doll's House opposite her future husband Peter O'Brien. Otto's performance earned her a 2003Helpmann Award nomination and the MO Award for "Best Female Actor in a Play".[39]
Her next stage role was in thepsychological thrillerBoy Gets Girl (2005), in which she played Theresa, a journalist for a New York magazine. Otto committed to the project days before she found out she was pregnant. Robyn Nevin, the director, rescheduled the production from December 2004 to September 2005 so that Otto could appear in it.[1]
On 1 January 2003,[40] she married actorPeter O'Brien, after the two met while performing inA Doll's House.[41] Otto and O'Brien have one child, a daughter.[41] After the birth of her daughter, Otto limited her work to spend more time with her family at their home in Australia.[3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Emma's War | Emma Grange | |
| 1987 | Initiation | Stevie | |
| 1988 | The 13th Floor | Rebecca | |
| 1992 | Daydream Believer | Nell Tiscowitz | Nominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress |
| The Last Days of Chez Nous | Annie | Nominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Female Supporting Actor | |
| 1993 | The Nostradamus Kid | Jennie O'Brien | |
| 1995 | Sex Is a Four Letter Word | Viv | |
| 1996 | Love Serenade | Dimity Hurley | |
| 1997 | The Well | Katherine | Nominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Female Actor |
| True Love and Chaos | Mimi | ||
| Doing Time for Patsy Cline | Patsy Cline | ||
| 1998 | Dead Letter Office | Alice Walsh | Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Female Actor |
| In the Winter Dark | Ronnie | Nominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| The Thin Red Line | Marty Bell | ||
| 2000 | Kin | Anna | |
| What Lies Beneath | Mary Feur | ||
| 2001 | The Three-Legged Fox | Ruth | |
| Human Nature | Gabrielle | ||
| 2002 | Close Your Eyes | Clara Strother | |
| Julie Walking Home | Julie | ||
| The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Éowyn | Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Internet Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress Internet Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance Nominated—Empire Award for Best Actress Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Internet Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Cast Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—International Online Cinema Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| Danny Deckchair | Glenda Lake | ||
| 2004 | In My Father's Den | Penny | |
| Flight of the Phoenix | Kelly Johnson | ||
| 2005 | War of the Worlds | Mary Ann Ferrier | |
| 2009 | In Her Skin | Mrs Barber | |
| Blessed | Bianca | ||
| 2010 | South Solitary | Meredith Appleton | |
| Get It at Goode's | Patty Williams | ||
| 2013 | Reaching for the Moon | Elizabeth Bishop | |
| The Turning | Sherry | ||
| 2014 | I, Frankenstein | Queen Leonore | |
| The Homesman | Theoline Belknapp | ||
| 2015 | The Daughter | Charlotte Finch | AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 2017 | Dance Academy: The Movie | Madeline Moncur | |
| Annabelle: Creation | Esther Mullins | ||
| 2018 | Zoe | The Designer | |
| The Chaperone | Ruth St. Dennis | ||
| 2019 | The Silence | Kelly Andrews | |
| 2020 | Downhill | Charlotte | |
| 2022 | Talk to Me | Sue | |
| 2023 | The Portable Door | Countess Judy | |
| 2024 | The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim | Éowyn | Alsonarrator[37] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | A Country Practice | Millie Alcott | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1992 | Heroes II: The Return | Roma Page | TV film |
| 1995 | Police Rescue | Amanda | TV series, episode: "On the Outer" |
| 1999 | The Jack Bull | Cora Redding | TV film |
| 2001 | The Way We Live Now | Mrs Hurtle | Miniseries |
| 2004 | Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story | Lindy Chamberlain | Miniseries SilverLogie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Actress Nominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Television Actress |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife | Cricket Stewart | Miniseries |
| Cashmere Mafia | Juliet Draper | TV series, 7 episodes | |
| 2012 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Lydia Andrews | TV series, episode: "Cocaine Blues" |
| 2014 | Rake | Maddy Deane | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 2015 | Homeland | Allison Carr | TV series, 12 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
| 2017 | 24: Legacy | Rebecca Ingram | TV series, 12 episodes |
| 2018–2020 | Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | Zelda Spellman | TV series, Main cast |
| 2021 | The Unusual Suspects | Sara Beasley | Miniseries, main cast |
| Fires | Kath Simpson | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | True Colours | Isabelle Martin | TV series, main cast |
| 2023 | Koala Man | Mindy (voice) | TV series, episode: "Hot Christmas" |
| The Clearing | Adrienne | TV series, 8 episodes | |
| Wellmania | Camille Lavigne | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2024 | Ladies In Black | Virginia Ambrose | TV series: 6 episodes |
| Thou Shall Not Steal | Maxine | TV series |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Midday with Kerri-Anne | Herself – Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997; 1998 | The Movie Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Monday to Friday | Herself – Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998; 2002 | The Movie Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Movie Show | Herself – Guest (fromVenice Film Festival) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2023; 2024 | News Breakfast | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2023 | The Project | Herself - Guest (withTeresa Palmer) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2024 | News Breakfast | Herself & Gracie Otto | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2024 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Australian Film Institute | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Girl Who Came Late | Nominated |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Last Days of Chez Nous | Nominated | ||
| 1993 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Female | Nominated | |
| 1996 | Best Actor – Female | Love Serenade | Nominated | |
| 1997 | Australian Film Institute | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | The Well | Nominated |
| 1998 | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | In the Winter Dark | Nominated | |
| Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actor – Female | The Well | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Best Actor – Female | Dead Letter Office | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble | The Thin Red Line | Won | |
| 2002 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Cast Ensemble | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Nominated |
| 2003 | Empire Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Gold Derby | Ensemble Cast | Nominated | ||
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Ensemble | Won | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Won | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| Newport Beach Film Festival | Best Actress | Julie Walking Home | Won | |
| Helpmann Award | Best Female Actor in a Play | A Doll's House | Nominated | |
| Mo Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | Won | ||
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Cast Ensemble | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Won | |
| DVD Exclusive Awards | Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) | Nominated | ||
| Golden Schmoes Awards | Best Supporting Actress of the Year | Nominated | ||
| National Board of Review | Best Acting by an Ensemble | Won | ||
| 2004 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Won | ||
| Gold Derby | Ensemble Cast | Won | ||
| International Online Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Ensemble Acting | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Won | ||
| 2005 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Through My Eyes | Won |
| Australian Film Institute | Best Lead Actress in Television | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actor – Female | South Solitary | Nominated |
| InStyle Women Of Style Award | Arts & Culture | Won | ||
| 2012 | Helpmann Award | Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Play | The White Guard | Nominated |
| 2014 | Women Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | The Homesman | Won |
| 2016 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Homeland | Nominated |
| AACTA Award | Best Supporting Actress | The Daughter | Won | |
| 2017 | Australian Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actress – Supporting Role | Won | ||
| 2021 | AACTA Award | Best Lead Actress in a Drama | Fires | Nominated |
