Christina Ricci did not have to audition for her role. She was approached by Producer Reese Witherspoon.
Reese Witherspoon's first project as the leading producer, as well as an actress, and also Mark Palansky's feature film directorial debut.
As the movie was filmed in the U.K., many of the actors who play American characters are actually British, such as Ronni Ancona, James McAvoy, Nick Frost and Burn Gorman.
Penelope's favorite novel (discussed with "Max" when he first enters the Wilhern house to take a picture of Penelope) is "The Dreamer" by George Rockham, a wholly fictional person.