British actress Olivia Hussey was the first choice for the role of Anne Boleyn. When producer Hal B. Wallis first met Hussey in New York in November 1967 at a party for her then upcoming film "Romeo and Juliet" (1968), he offered her the title role. In addition, he also offered her to star with John Wayne in "True Grit" (1969). In her 2019 memoir, Hussey stated that she had "mumbled something about being interested in "Anne of the Thousand Days"” but added that she "couldn’t see herself with Wayne". She claims that this "adolescent and opinionated" remark inevitably ended her professional relationship with Wallis, and he immediately withdrew his offer from her. "It had taken me less than a minute to talk my way out of it" Hussey stated.