[1][2] She was a member of the House Henckel of Donnersmarck, a rich Austro-German noble family that originated in modern-day Slovakia.
[3] Her maternal grandfather, Count Georg von Kanitz, was a German military attaché in Persia during World War I.
[7] She was not trained as an actress, and was considered by Cecil Beaton, an artistic director for the film, to be the only non-actress suitable to play the role, stating that she had "impeccable deportment and breeding".
[9] Beaton had originally wanted Cukor to cast Fritzi Massary for the role, but she demanded too much pay.
[10] The part then went to Rothschild, who was costumed with a triple-pronged tiara and three-tiered diamond necklace designed by Beaton.