Mira Sorvino auditioned for the role in New York, and didn't get the role. When Woody Allen went to London to audition some British actresses, Sorvino showed up again, in full costume, and got the role.
Even after their bitter and much-publicized breakup, Mia Farrow lobbied for the role of Amanda. In a 2005 interview with "Vanity Fair", Woody Allen said that he considered casting her, because he believed she would be the best actress for the role. His casting director Juliet Taylor replied "What, are you nuts?"
According to Mira Sorvino, after a month into filming, Woody Allen wanted her to change the high-pitched voice she was using for her character. She said she would oblige, but told him it would completely change who the character was. Woody was ambivalent and then told her he was just thinking out loud. Mira kept the voice.
Despite having principal billing on the poster, Olympia Dukakis has three lines and one minute of screen time.
In real life, Mira Sorvino graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, and is fluent in French and Mandarin Chinese.