Oscar nominee Glenn Close says working with her daughter, Annie Starke, on The Wife was a special experience. Starke plays the younger version of Close's character Joan Castleman in the Bjorn Runge-directed film. For her performance, Close was nominated for Best Actress at 91st Academy Awards.

According to Femalefirst, Close said the reason why working with her daughter was "special" is because "she really had to lay down the foundations of the character".