Pretty Woman uncomfortable playing a sex worker. Winona Ryder auditioned, but was turned down because Marshall felt she was "too young". Jennifer Connelly was also dismissed for the same reason. Emily Lloyd turned it down as it conflicted with her shooting for the film "Mermaids". Meg Ryan, who was a top choice of Marshall's, turned it down as well. According to a note written by Marshall, Mary Steenburgen was also among the first choices. Diane Lane came very close to being cast (the script was much darker at the time); they had gone as far as costume fittings, but due to scheduling
Winona Ryder Ryder was visibly upset at the accusation and Rundle was admonished by the judge. Outside the courthouse, Polly's father Marc Klaas defended Ryder and expressed outrage at the prosecutor's comments. Ryder has been involved in philanthropic work for the American Indian College Fund since her twenties, which sends low income indigenous peoples to universities. Money from the premiers of her films funded heating and shuttle bus transportation for American Indian colleges, where the dropout rate was high. After Ryder's financial contributions, the dropout rate decreased dramatically. On December 12, 2001, Ryder was arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills, California.