Miller's Crossing marks the film debut of Marcia Gay Harden, who plays Verna. Like previous Coen brothers discoveries Frances McDormand and Holly Hunter, she comes from the New York theatre, where she has appeared in plays by Brecht, Chekhov, Shakespeare, Harold Pinter and Sam Shepard.

Since her debut in Miller's Crossing, Harden has been in such movies as Late for Dinner, The First Wives Club, and Flubber. She won an Academy Award for her performance in the 2000 film Pollock.

Quotes from Marcia Gay Harden on Miller's Crossing:

• Verna is "very controlled, and she can be tough. She plays poker with the guys and wins. She knows how to keep things behind a screen. She's wild because people perceive her as wild, and the people she hangs out with ARE wild. I think Verna's willing to think of new ways to go on living that other people would judge in a bad way."