Having gotten Klein to make the first call, it's now up to Roy to meet his newfound daughter, Angela, a bright, vivacious 14-year-old, played by Alison Lohman, who earned accolades last year as star of the poignant drama White Oleander. As Rapke recalls, "when her name came up as a possibility I said to Ridley, 'you have to see this White Oleander stuff; she's really incredible.' She has the range to play both young and mature, which is precisely the blend we have in Angela."

"Alison is effortless," says Cage with genuine admiration. "I never see the acting, she's so smooth and full of life and fascinating to watch. She has the ability to tap into her emotional resources and come up with something real every time."