Key hair stylist Aldo Signoretti was kidnapped by gang members and held for $300 ransom which Baz Luhrmann paid.
Leonardo DiCaprio's version of Romeo's speech at Juliet's bier was so good that it moved Claire Danes to tears, nearly ruining the scene. The moment the director yelled "cut," Danes smacked DiCaprio on the arm and said, "Don't make me cry. I'm supposed to be comatose, here!"
Cinematographer Donald McAlpine was faced with a real problem with the meet-cute scene between Romeo and Juliet at the fish tank - the reflections of the water and the glass of the tank were almost impossible to light without causing all sorts of untoward reflections. McAlpine solved the problem by inserting a couple of fluorescent tubes into the tank out of the camera's eyeline. These were the sole source of light in the scene.
The opening petrol station encounter took 7 days to film with 2 days of pick-ups in Veracruz.
Leonardo DiCaprio fought for Claire Danes to win the role of Juliet after she impressed him with her line delivery and the fact that she was the only actress to look him straight in the eye.
Catherine Martin, Kym Barrett: The production designer and the costume designer make cameo appearances as Gloria Capulet's maids. They are seen in the film dressing Juliet's mother in her Cleopatra costume before the ball.
John O'Connell: The choreographer plays the waiter at Sycamore Grove just before Mercutio's death scene.
Martin Brown: The film's co-producer is the security man sitting at the monitors in the balcony scene.