Julia Stiles brought the enduring legacy of the 1999 teen classic "10 Things I Hate About You" to the ballroom floor during Dedication Night on "Dancing With the Stars." Partnering with pro dancer Ezra Sosa, Stiles used the milestone episode to celebrate the life and memory of her former co-star Heath Ledger through a heartfelt contemporary performance.
The routine was set to the Frankie Valli classic "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," a track deeply intertwined with the 1999 romantic comedy. In the movie, Ledger's character, Patrick Verona, famously serenaded Stiles' character, Kat Stratford, from stadium bleachers during her soccer practice, creating one of the most iconic romantic moments of late-90s cinema.
Rallying the Cast for a Meaningful Ballroom Reunion
For Stiles, honoring Ledger required bringing together the people who shared in that career-defining experience. Speaking to Variety following the broadcast, the actress revealed that she actively reached out to her former colleagues to take part in the moment.
"I said, if we had to have someone with us on stage representing Heath's legacy or the film, I said it had to be the whole cast," Stiles said. "I begged them, each and every one of them, and they all rallied. They really did."
To complement the nostalgic atmosphere, Stiles wore a blue dress reminiscent of Kat Stratford's wardrobe in the movie, along with a matching hairstyle. She described looking at herself in the styling as "really trippy," contrasting her teenage perspective when making the film with her life today.
"At 17 years old, I never would have thought that here I'd be at 45, celebrating my body, dancing on the show that I absolutely love and that fans are still interested in this movie and still moved and touched by this movie," she reflected.
An Emotional Journey Through Rehearsals
While Stiles embraced the presentation on live television, preparing the routine took a heavy emotional toll during practice sessions earlier in the week. The actress admitted that she initially assumed the passage of time would shield her from getting overwhelmed.
"I know that Dedication Night is emotional, but I thought I was distanced from it enough. Like, oh, it was so many years ago," Stiles shared prior to the live performance. However, working closely with archival material quickly changed that dynamic.
Stiles recalled breaking into tears during rehearsals as the sensory triggers of the film resurfaced. "Something about seeing clips from that movie and images and hearing my voice and hearing his voice is bringing back so many memories. It's a lot," she explained.
Preserving Heath Ledger's Artistic Legacy
Ledger passed away in January 2008 at the age of 28, leaving behind an acclaimed body of work that continues to resonate across generations of filmgoers. Stiles emphasized that preserving that emotional bond between an artist and an audience remains central to why performers dedicate themselves to their craft.
"One of the things that we really hope to do as performers is to make people feel something and have people care about the work that you do, and his memory lives on because it was such an incredible performance," Stiles stated.
As Stiles advances in the current season of "Dancing With the Stars," the Dedication Night tribute stands as a public testament to the lasting cultural footprint of "10 Things I Hate About You" and the enduring affection among its ensemble cast decades after its release.
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Source: Variety
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