Glenn Close was the second choice for Ranyevskaya. After Dame Helen Mirren withdrew, she was called to replace her. She was busy with Cookie's Fortune (1999) at the time, so she refused the part at the last minute.
Dame Helen Mirren was supposed to play the part of Ranyevskaya. She was involved with the project from the beginning, and even attended the rehearsals. But when director Michael Cacoyannis announced that no one was to leave Bulgaria during the three months of filming, she pulled out.