- Sullivan knew of Megan Follows, and had seen her acting in a TV movie, Hockey Night. While the CBC felt that Megan, at 16 years of age, was simply too old, Sullivan was adamant that he “wasn’t going to find a great actress sitting in a field”. He felt the role needed an outstanding actress, and Follows had the technical ability and the emotional complexity. Sullivan therefore persisted, and screen-tested Follows twice more before she got the role.

- Sullivan never actually auditioned the actor Jonathan Crombie. The casting director, Diane Polley, had seen him in a play at Lawrence Park Collegiate and she was convinced he was perfect for the part of Gilbert Blythe. After auditioning hundreds of other actors, including Yannick Bisson (currently playing Inspector William Murdoch on the hit series Murdoch Mysteries) and Canadian actor Jason Priestley (best known as Beverly Hills, 90210’s Brandon Walsh), Polley managed to convince Sullivan of his ability—even whilst Crombie was out of the country on vacation!

- After the actress Kate Reid was cast for the part of Rachel Lynde, scheduling difficulties meant that she was unable to take on the role. Polley quickly remembered another local actress who she thought would be a perfect fit, and she immediately brought Patricia Hamilton to the set. She introduced Hamilton to Sullivan by saying, “Meet Rachel Lynde.” Sullivan confesses that he “knew in five minutes” that Hamilton would be perfect.

- Richard Farnsworth agreed to play the role of Matthew because his wife loved the book so much as a child; however, filming began before negotiations were complete. Sullivan was so sure of the choice to cast Farnsworth that he used a stand-in, made to look exactly like Farnsworth, for several scenes until Farnsworth arrived on set.

- Anne of Green Gables has been broadcast in over 145 countries around the world, in over 30 languages!

Anne of Green Gables: The Kevin Sullivan Restoration Collection is now available for preorder.