Julia Roberts, who was 22 when the film was shot in the spring of 1990, became the youngest actress to earn a seven-figure fee for a single performance.
Julia Roberts caused a controversy after she left Abbeville, South Carolina, where the film shot some location work. She said the place was "a living hell" and a "horribly racist" town where she would never return.
At the time director Joseph Ruben was hired, Kim Basinger was attached to the project as Laura Burney. She ultimately turned down the part, saying she felt she wasn't right for the role. Julia Roberts was then cast.
It was Patrick Bergin's idea to use composer Hector Berlioz's symphony, one of his favorite pieces of music, as Martin Burney's music of choice.
The name Laura chooses for herself is connected to her past life. The first name of Sara means Princess, which is what Martin used to call her, and the last name of Waters symbolizes Laura's supposed drowning.