Curtis Hanson Literally Quotations

One of the reasons I wanted Toni to play the part was...she would put on the burden of weight, ... The weight of responsibility that someone feels who literally gave up her own childhood to take care of her sister.

When you're dealing with someone like Shirley, it's a little insulting to ask her to come in for a meeting. But I wanted to meet her first and talk to her about the character, because there was a very big 'if' on it for me. Shirley is such a powerful presence, personality and talent, and she has used that power effectively over a long and rich career. But I wanted to know she would be able to put a damper on all of that and go to a very quiet place to play this character who is literally hiding from life, who has put a lid on everything because of her guilt, her fear and her unresolved issues. If Shirley could go to that kind of a place, and then blossom as her character's life broadens, I thought it would be very exciting.