The role of Senay is French film star Audrey Tautou's first English-speaking role.
Damien O'Donnell was originally attached to direct, but he decided to pass after problems with Harvey Weinstein. He directed Heartlands (2002) instead.
The first film from Celador, the company behind TV quiz show _"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" (1998)_. Steven Knight, co-creator of the hit show, also wrote the script for Dirty Pretty Things.