The series takes place from 1868 to 1929; 33-year old Francesca Annis played Lillie from the age of 15 to 75.
Francesca Annis wore 200 different costumes during the production, each one carefully designed and fitted to her, many embellished with period lace and ribbon.
Francesca Annis (Lillie Langtry) is the only actor to appear in all 13 episodes of the series. In second place is Catherine Feller (Dominique), who appears in every episode except the first and last.
Francesca Annis (Lillie Langtry) plays the mother of Joanna David (Jeanne Marie Malcolm) in the series even though she is only a year and a half her senior in real life.
More than 1,000 performers appear in the mini series, with 150 of them as principal characters.