 According to casting director Howard Feuer (qv), both  Anne Bancroft (I) (qv) and Maureen Stapleton (qv) had been  considered for the role of Cher (I) (qv)s mother, but their fees  were too expensive for the production budget. Feuer remembered  Olympia Dukakis (qv), a character actress known for years to most  in casting, she read for director Norman Jewison (qv) and he hired  her instantly.