Emilie de Ravin, an Australian actress, originally auditioned for the role of Shannon, speaking her dialogue with an American accent. Instead, they offered her the part of Claire; she accepted without reading the script, assuming it would just be a recurring role.[7] While de Ravin had never been pregnant, she was able to learn of the experience from her two older sisters.[8] She found the hot weather conditions in Hawaii difficult, later saying that "in many ways, the filming is actually like the drama.