Interview with Miranda Otto

In some ways, Éowyn is Tolkien's most realized character. How did you approach her?

I went back to the books continually and photocopied every page she was in. I cut it all out, every line of dialogue or description or movement. Then I did another thing about how other people saw her or felt about her. I just wanted to know everything about how Tolkien perceived her.


Obviously, Éowyn is a tough woman...

Yeah, but she's also a woman, if you know what I mean. Part of me really wanted to show that tough side, but it was important when there are so few female characters to see a femininity and a vulnerability as well.

Any extraordinary memories that you'll take away from The Lord of the Rings?

The first day I arrived at Edoras was really memorable. We had an hour and a half drive to the set, and we came over the hill to see the Golden Hall built in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by these white covered mountains, exactly as described in the book. To feel as an actor that you had so much to work with was really exciting. It was like being a child thinking about being a princess and having a palace and then you wake up one morning and there it is.

Interview was taken from The Lord of the Rings the official web site.