 Judy Parfitt (qv) was recommended for the role of Vera by  Taylor Hackford (qv)s wife, Helen Mirren (qv). Parfitt, who had  largely confined her career to the stage, was virtually unknown to  film audiences at the time. After auditioning with  Kathy Bates (I) (qv), Bates reportedly turned to Hackford and  gasped "Who was that?" The actress and director agreed to cast  Parfit on the spot.