 Melanie Lynskey (qv) was Jamie Babbit (qv)s first choice to  play Hilary after the director had seen her in  _Heavenly Creatures (1994)_ (qv) and _Ever After (1998)_ (qv).  Additionally, Lynskey had already worked with Natasha Lyonne (qv)  (Megan) in _Detroit Rock City (1999)_ (qv).