Julia Stiles says she contacted Michelle Williams before honoring the late Heath Ledger on Dancing With the Stars.
Stiles dedicated her contemporary routine with professional partner Ezra Sosa to Ledger during the show's Dedication Night on October 20, 2026. Before moving forward with the tribute, she reached out to Williams, Ledger's former partner and the mother of his daughter, Matilda.
In a post-show interview with Extra, Stiles explained that she asked Williams whether the tribute was appropriate. Williams gave her approval.
A dance inspired by 10 Things I Hate About You
Stiles and Sosa performed to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," a song closely associated with one of the most memorable scenes in the 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You.
In the film, Ledger's character, Patrick Verona, sings the song to Stiles' character, Kat Stratford, from the school bleachers. The moment became one of the movie's defining scenes and remains closely connected to Ledger's breakthrough performance.
The judges awarded Stiles and Sosa 36 points out of 40 for the routine.
- Oct. 20, 2026Dedication Night performance
- 36/40Judges' score
- 199910 Things I Hate About You release year
Source: ABC, Extra and Variety Australia
The cast reunited onstage
The performance became a wider celebration of 10 Things I Hate About You when several members of the cast joined Stiles onstage at the end of the dance.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan appeared for the reunion. A photograph of Stiles and Ledger from the movie was displayed behind them as they stood together.
Stiles told Variety Australia that the cast rallied to support the performance. She said it was important that the moment represent the group rather than focus only on one person.
Why Stiles wanted to honor Ledger
Before the performance, Stiles reflected on working with Ledger when they were young actors. She described him as playful, generous and a guiding presence during the production of the film.
Stiles was 17 when she made 10 Things I Hate About You, one of her first major leading roles. Ledger's portrayal of Patrick helped introduce him to a wider Hollywood audience, while the movie became a lasting favorite among fans of 1990s teen films.
Ledger died in January 2008 at age 28. Stiles said revisiting their work together was emotional but also transformative.
Michelle Williams supported the tribute
Stiles' decision to contact Williams added an important layer of care to the performance. Williams and Ledger were together from 2004 until 2007 and welcomed their daughter, Matilda, in 2005.
Rather than assuming the tribute would be welcomed, Stiles checked with Williams before it aired.
The performance was part of Season 35's Dedication Night, which invited the remaining contestants to honor people and places that shaped their lives. The episode is listed on ABC as the season's seventh episode.
For Stiles, the dance brought together personal memories, a defining moment from her career and the cast of a film that continues to connect with audiences more than 25 years after its release.