Elle Fanning, the real-life younger sister of Dakota Fanning, was initially supposed to play Sophie Gray. However, she had to be re-cast because she grew four inches taller than her sister.
The real Effie Gray was from Perth, Scotland. However, this movie opted for an all English accent cast.
Greg Wise (John Ruskin) and Dame Emma Thompson (Lady Eastlake) have been married since 2003.