Julia Stiles brought a beloved piece of 10 Things I Hate About You back to life on Dancing With the Stars, honoring her late co-star Heath Ledger. Her emotional performance revisited his iconic serenade while celebrating the infectious energy that made him unforgettable.
The actress reunited with several castmates from the 1999 romantic comedy during the show’s October 20 dedication night. Alongside dance partner Ezra Sosa, she transformed a nostalgic movie moment into a heartfelt tribute to the friend she lost far too soon.
The ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ star wanted to bring back his “lust for life”
Speaking with PEOPLE after the performance, Stiles, 45, explained why the routine carried such personal meaning. She admitted that revisiting the film stirred up emotions she hadn’t expected after more than 25 years. “I really feel how important it is to honor him,” she said. “He lives on because his performance in that film was so incredible.”
Stiles also revealed what she hoped to capture from Ledger’s unforgettable scene. “I want to recreate the lust for life that he had in that scene,” she said.
The routine featured Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the song Ledger’s Patrick Verona famously performed to win over Stiles’ Kat Stratford. Wearing a shimmering blue gown, she recreated some of his playful energy with Sosa before the dance shifted into a quieter, emotional finale. Sosa handed her a red rose as Stiles’ character’s famous poem played over images from the film.
Her former castmates Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan and Susan May Pratt then joined her onstage.
Stiles and Sosa explained their careful approach in a joint Instagram post. “I don’t think we’ve ever approached a performance with more care, sensitivity, and intention than this one,” they wrote. They stressed that the tribute honored the film and Ledger’s lasting impact without attempting to define their personal relationship.
Stiles also remembered how Ledger brought people together. Speaking with DWTS co-host Julianne Hough, she described him as someone who “just brought out the light in everybody.” She added, “He was the leader of the pack at the time. He made everybody else shine.”
Ledger died in 2008 at 28 from an accidental prescription drug overdose. The tribute earned Stiles and Sosa 36 out of 40 points, tying them for third-best score that night. No contestants went home, setting up a double elimination for the next episode.
