Jane Campion offered her The Piano (1993) star Anna Paquin the leading role of Robin Griffin, but Paquin declined due to her pregnancy.
Nicole Kidman officially joined the second season in June 2016. Negotiations to have her join the show lasted a full year, in order to accommodate her schedule with Big Little Lies. The part, which she was able to shoot in five weeks, was written especially for her.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was set to co-produce and help fund the production but pulled out of its deal when Jane Campion cast American Elisabeth Moss in the lead role. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation had only agreed to help fund the project if an Australian or New Zealander was cast in the lead role. After they left the project, UKTV stepped in to co-produce and replace the lost funding.
In January 2013, it became the first television series ever to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Later, the entire series was screened at the Berlin Film Festival.
Due to her busy schedule, Elisabeth Moss had to film the first season during the hiatus between seasons 5 and 6 of Mad Men (2007).