Beloved Aussie Supa-Stars Miranda Otto and David Wenham took Gold Coast Supa-Fans on a trip to Middle-earth and beyond last month during their The Lord of the Rings panel.
Ahead of the duo’s appearance at Supanova 2021 – Melbourne (May 22 & 23), we relive a few panels highlights as a taste of what to expect.
Favourite moments while filming
Miranda: “One of the most amazing moments for me was when we were shooting outside the Golden Hall that they had built. I remember being driven in at 4am, looking out the window and seeing the huge, amazing set they had built… how epic the setting was amongst all those mountains. That was a really memorable day just because it was such an epic shot.”
David: “Every day you were pinching yourself that you were there. Pelennor was one of those pinch-me moments on that day, that huge action sequence was monumental stuff. But that was happening on a daily basis, it was overwhelming in terms of special moments.”
Catching up with the rest of the cast
Miranda: “Recently we did this thing during lockdown – we all ended up on an email chain with a bit of back and forth after Josh Gad’s [reunion zoom call]. Everyone is trying to work out a way to get back to New Zealand someday. Particularly Dominic [Monaghan] is pushing really hard for that! I’m hoping that we do get together again at some stage.”
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Landscape goals
David: “New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Having said that, this country here is mind-blowingly beautiful. The great thing about Australia is that it’s so different wherever you go.”
The impact of LOTR
Miranda: “I was cast without a full grasp of the story. When I went over and they showed me the footage they had, I knew from that moment that it would be huge. I had no doubt in my mind. I just thought; these films are gonna be incredible.”
Who would win in a survivor island battle, Game of Thrones or Lord of The Rings?
David: “Lord of The Rings. We could just chop their heads off!”
Miranda: “I think the Lord of The Rings cast is slightly bigger.”
David: “And we have better skill.”
Early casting days
David: “We both have agents, and in Australia, we both have the same agent. I was asked to screen test; they asked me to put down a test using Boromir’s dialogue. Essentially, I was cast because I look like Sean Bean.”
Miranda: “When I was cast, I had to do an American and English accent. Because they weren’t sure how they were going to do it at that point.”
Old English
During the emotional funeral of Théodred, Miranda’s character, Éowyn, recites a sorrowful lament for her cousin in Old English. 19 years on, Miranda still remembers most of it. Upon reciting it for the audience, fans thundered with applause.
Miranda: “I found that so hard at the time, but it’s in there. When learning Latin in Sabrina… in my head, I just keep going back to that piece of Old English.”
Miranda Otto and David Wenham at Supanova 2021 – Gold Coast. Photo by Jamie Bishop.
BONUS
Spray-on abs
David: “The character I was supposed to be [in 300] was a beast of a man. I went over to Toronto thinking I would be fired, because I’m not that guy. But there were two months of serious training beforehand, and then we were there for I think five months. And every day we would train, even if we were shooting. As for the abs… the abs, I assure you, were there. But there was spray tanning involved, because of the colourisation of the picture. There was enhancement.”
Miranda Otto and David Wenham will appear at Supanova 2021 – Melbourne (May 22 & 23).
Lead Image: Miranda Otto and David Wenham at Supanova 2021 – Gold Coast. Photo by Jamie Bishop.
