Julia Stiles’ latest role is giving 10 Things I Hate About You fans a familiar reason to celebrate, tracing back to one of the actress’ most memorable dance moments.
Stiles has officially joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars Season 35, where she will compete alongside professional dancer Ezra Sosa. ABC officially revealed the complete Season 35 roster on Wednesday.
Stiles famously starred as Kat Stratford in the 1999 hit teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. During an iconic party sequence, Kat famously dances on a pool table. Director Thomas Carter later saw that exact scene and invited Stiles to audition for his 2001 romantic dance drama, Save the Last Dance.
That opportunity led to Stiles playing Sara Johnson, a hip-hop-trained ballet dancer striving for Juilliard. More than two decades later, she is stepping back into the dance spotlight on a real-life competitive stage.
Why this casting feels like a full-circle moment for longtime fans
The full-circle appeal comes from Stiles’ transitioning from fictional movie dance sequences to an actual televised ballroom competition. Her early film catalog helped solidify her connection to dance long before taking on this new ballroom challenge. Now, she puts her skills to the test alongside pro Ezra Sosa.
The Season 35 lineup includes Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali, and Giada De Laurentiis. The cast also features returning fan favorites Witney Carson and Sharna Burgess, along with newcomer Hailey Bills.
Carson is returning while pregnant with her third child, while Burgess returns after five years away from the ballroom. Bills steps into the pro lineup alongside Sarah Jane Nader, marking the show’s second female-female celebrity-pro partnership.
Season 35 begins with a two-night premiere on Sept. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts, with Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough returning to the judges’ table.
This article was originally reported by Surya Singh on ComingSoon.
