Trivia / Darling

• Deleted Role: Fanny Cradock, Sam Costa and Terry Downes were cut from the final print.
• Inspiration for the Work: John Schlesinger claimed that the original idea for this movie came from a chance remark made to him by newspaper columnist and television personality Godfrey Winn, when the latter was playing a brief acting role As Himself in Billy Liar. The character of Diana Scott was based on a real person whom Winn had known.
• Star-Making Role: Julie Christie's first starring role.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Shirley MacLaine was originally cast as Diana, but dropped out. Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were also considered.
  • John Cassavetes, William Holden, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Cliff Robertson and Maximilian Schell were considered for the role of Robert Gold.

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