Miranda Otto was born on December 16, 1967, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Her parents are Barry Otto, an actor, and Lindsay Otto. She spent her childhood alternating between Brisbane and Newcastle. Her half-sister is actress Gracie Otto.
Otto’s acting career began in Australia. She studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) briefly but left to pursue acting opportunities. Her early roles were primarily in Australian film and television.
Some of her early and notable Australian film roles include:
Otto gained international recognition for her portrayal of Éowyn in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Her role as Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) significantly elevated her profile. She received critical acclaim for her performance, particularly for the iconic line, “I am no man.”
Following The Lord of the Rings, Otto has appeared in a variety of films, including: