Mike Binder wrote the script specifically to give Joan Allen a juicy starring role. Kevin Costner gained 20 pounds for his role. Binder approached singer-turned-actress Mandy Moore to play the youngest of the daughters but she backed out because she wanted to do publicity for an upcoming album. Lauren Ambrose changed her mind about playing the role of the daughter whose obsession with dance and dieting almost kills her. Keri Russell soon took on the role. Russell had studied classical ...[Read Story ]