Ruth Cracknell was the one who suggested Toni Collette having been a huge fan of hers since she saw her in Muriel's Wedding. Collette was also a huge fan of Cracknell's and of the show Mother and Son and was excited to hear Cracknell was a huge fan of hers too.
Based loosely on the life of legendary eccentric Bea Miles, who recited Shakespeare for a dollar on the streets of Sydney and rode taxis for a sonnet.
Ruth Cracknell, a Shakespearean actress and life long fan of William Shakespeare's knew the Shakespearean monologues she recited off by heart before the film was green lit.