Finding the right actors to bring Hope Floats to life was a major challenge, so the filmmakers were thrilled when Gena Rowlands agreed to play the role of Birdee's mother, Ramona. "Gena has a sense of peace to her that comes from experience," says Bullock. "I learned a lot from her about dignity, honor and respect."
   Finding the perfect 'Justin', Birdee's ardent suitor, was equally daunting, but in a different way. While Rowlands had stepped in almost immediately to play Ramona, the filmmakers had to screen test several actors before making a surprising choice to play Justin " actor/musician Harry Connick, Jr. "I'm just wild about Harry," Obst says laughing. "His southern charm, warmth and good looks haven't ever been used properly in a romantic lead prior to this. He and Sandra make a perfect movie couple."
   In addition to working opposite such a stellar and dedicated company, Connick was pleased to be playing a character very different from himself. "I am very impulsive and very much an extrovert," Connick explains. "Justin is not like that at all. There are a lot of decisions he makes that I wouldn't make. If I were in love, I'd send flowers " really court her. He doesn't do any of that."

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