The producers were looking for an actress who fit the description of Cynthia Hawkins (the Diva) in the original novel - a beautiful black American woman who sings a flawless operatic soprano, and speaks both English and French fluently. They attended a performance of La Boheme to familiarize themselves with opera performers. Wilhelmenia Fernandez was playing Musetta the night they attended the opera.
The movie is based on the book by Delacorta, which is part of a series of stories in which Alba and Gorodish are the main characters.
This was the first film role for Wilhelmenia Fernandez. She was also featured in a television production of the opera La Bohème (1980).