The huge glasses Glenn Close wears in the movie are "Mamaw's" actual frames. The family loaned them to Close during production.
Original author J.D. Vance's family were on set from time to time and Glenn Close has said that she was gratified to see one of his brothers break into tears while he watched her capture the essence of their grandmother's character in one particular scene. After that experience, Glenn knew she'd nailed it.
Glenn Close's makeup application for her 'Mamaw' character involved having her nose and ears prosthetically altered by designer Matthew W. Mungle and applied and painted by Eryn Krueger Mekash. This daily transformation only took about one hour to complete, and an additional 30 minutes for her wig.
When Usha is talking to J.D. on the phone in her apartment, photos of the real Usha and her family are on the refrigerator and in picture frames in the background.
Amy Adams and Haley Bennett, 14 years apart in age, play mother and daughter. The real Bev Vance had her first child, daughter Lindsay, at age 19.