Fred Astaire's character is based on photographer Richard Avedon and his wife, Doe, who, like the character "Jo Stockton," became a noted model despite her indifference toward that profession. In fact, it is Avedon who set up most of the photography for this film, including the famous face portrait of Audrey Hepburn unveiled during the darkroom sequence.
In order to secure Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in the cast, producers told each that the other was already signed, figuring they would not pass up the opportunity to work together.
Ditzy model Marion is played by Queens New York-born Dovima, who was one of the top fashion models of the day and often worked with Richard Avedon. This was also her film debut. Marion's interest in comic books was inserted into the film to reflect actress-model Dovima's real-life passion for them.
In May 1990, Funny Face (1957) was chosen to close the AFI Film Festival and was re-released by Paramount that same year in select U.S. cities.
Audrey Hepburn did not want to be separated from her husband Mel Ferrer, so filming of the Paris scenes was timed to coincide with Ferrer's filming of Elena et les hommes (1956) (in the United States, shown under the title Paris Does Strange Things) with Ingrid Bergman. Paris' unseasonably rainy weather had to be worked into the script, particularly during the balloons photo shoot scene. During filming of the Paris scenes, much of the crew and cast were on edge because of riots and political violence that were gripping the city.