Acting since she was thirteen, Brittany Murphy has earned multiple glowing notices since her first scene-stealing comic turn as ditsy "Tai" in Clueless at the age of sixteen. But with the recent succession of scene-stealing, acclaimed performances in such films as Girl, Interrupted, Don't Say a Word, and last year's smash hit 8-Mile, Murphy has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after actresses. Her flair for broad comedy is as impressive as her unflinchingly honest dramatic turns - a combination that made her the perfect choice to play Molly Gunn.
"Molly's infectious spirit and larger-than-life presence required an actress with a truly diverse arsenal of talents," says Yakin. "Brittany really had all of the right qualities. Molly has to be this force that pulls you through the film. There are very few actresses that have the energy and vitality and ability to pull it off, but Brittany really does. She's physical and very free in a way that many actresses aren't. She's very uninhibited and has a lot of range, so she was really ideal for the part."
For her part, Murphy was thrilled to get to play Molly Gunn. She was attracted to the humor in the script and the Cinderella-in-reverse, fairytale aspect of the story. She also saw a bit of herself in the Molly character, which she describes, with a laugh, as "the eccentric parts of my personality, multiplied by twelve."
Murphy says her reaction to the script was particularly visceral and immediate. "To me, it was one of those magical, unexplainable things," she says. "I knew I had to do it. When I read the script, not only was it funny, but I knew it would be the most personal thing I've ever been a part of. It just really hit home.
"I love Molly," she continues. "When the film opens, she's not the most responsible woman, but she has a zest for life and an openness that I find incredibly refreshing. To be able to play a character like that, a girl trying to find herself and to figure out what she's going to do with her life, a girl waking up to the possibilities and realities of life in such a vibrant and exciting way - what a dream! I'm so incredibly glad to have been a part of the film."
Eight-year-old Dakota Fanning was the only actress considered for the role of Ray Schleine. Coming off her Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated performance opposite Sean Penn in I Am Sam, she had quickly become the most sought-after child actress in the industry.
"We like to joke that when we bought the script, Dakota probably wasn't even walking or forming full sentences," laughs Penotti. "Then we realized after meeting her that she was probably reciting poetry at age four." Stevens adds, "Dakota was not only the perfect age for Ray, it's like the role was written for her."
When Fanning read the script, she liked that portraying Ray required a lot of ballet, one of her own favorite pursuits. She also saw it as a new acting challenge. "It's such a different role," she says. "I've never played anyone like Ray. She is so tight and clenched." She laughs, "And kind of mean, actually - a very fun role to play."
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