Julia Stiles thought enough time had passed for her to revisit 10 Things I Hate About You without feeling overwhelmed. But as the actress prepares for a deeply personal performance on Dancing With the Stars, memories of her late co-star Heath Ledger have begun to surface in ways she did not expect.
The upcoming Dedication Night routine will bring one of the 1999 romantic comedy’s most unforgettable musical moments back into the spotlight. For Stiles, however, this is about more than recreating a beloved film memory. It is an opportunity to honour Ledger’s legacy and recognise why their shared work continues to mean so much to audiences decades later.
Julia Stiles Says Preparing for Heath Ledger Tribute Has Brought Back Emotional Memories
Stiles is preparing to honour Ledger during Dancing With the Stars Dedication Night on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The actress and her professional dance partner, Ezra Sosa, are scheduled to perform a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, the song that became inseparable from Ledger’s character in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Speaking to People at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards on October 15, Stiles opened up about the unexpected emotions that emerged while preparing for the performance.
She understood that Dedication Night was designed around personal stories and meaningful connections. Nevertheless, she initially believed the years since the film’s release would give her enough distance to approach the tribute without becoming too emotional.
“I know from watching the show how emotional Dedication Night is. It’s always very personal stories. But I thought, ‘Oh, I’m distanced enough from it. The movie was so many years ago,’” Stiles told People.
That expectation changed when she began revisiting the film during rehearsals. Watching old clips, seeing photographs of herself and Ledger, and hearing their voices again brought memories rushing back.
“But something about watching clips from that movie, seeing our pictures, hearing our voices is bringing up a lot,” she added.
For Stiles, the experience has become a reminder of the emotional connection that can remain attached to a project long after filming ends.
She also made clear that the dedication carries a deeper purpose than simply revisiting a popular romantic comedy.
“I really feel how important it is to honor him,” she said.
The actress explained why Ledger’s contribution remains central to the film’s lasting appeal.
“He lives on because his performance in that film was so incredible.”
Her words capture the significance of the upcoming routine: a chance to celebrate a co-star whose performance continues to connect with viewers long after his death.
Another Family Tribute
Public tributes can offer a glimpse into the ways families remember loved ones and share personal reflections with the public. For another example of a family honouring a loved one, see our Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber tribute report.
Why Julia Stiles Chose Heath Ledger’s Iconic ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ Song
Released in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You starred Stiles as Kat Stratford and Ledger as Patrick Verona. The romantic comedy adapted William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew into a contemporary high-school setting, combining romance, humour and performances that helped establish both actors as recognisable young stars.
One scene, in particular, has remained a defining moment in the film’s legacy.
Patrick attempts to win over Kat by singing Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” from the bleachers at her high-school stadium. Accompanied by the school marching band, he turns the performance into a public declaration of affection before school security pursues him.
The sequence became one of the movie’s most memorable moments, making the song a natural choice for Stiles’ dedication.
Rather than selecting music unrelated to their shared screen history, Stiles and Sosa will interpret a song directly associated with Ledger’s character. Their contemporary routine is intended to honour the actor, not simply recreate the original scene.
The choice also reflects the enduring popularity of 10 Things I Hate About You. Stiles’ comments suggest that she understands how strongly audiences remain connected to the film and the performances that made it memorable.
Heath Ledger’s Legacy Beyond the Romantic Comedy
Ledger died in January 2008 at the age of 28 from an accidental prescription drug overdose.
His career included acclaimed performances in Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight. He received a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for portraying the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Although Ledger’s career reached far beyond the 1999 romantic comedy, the upcoming Dancing With the Stars tribute will specifically recognise his work in 10 Things I Hate About You and the performance that helped make the film a lasting favourite.
For Stiles, revisiting that chapter of her career has clearly become more personal than she originally anticipated.
Julia Stiles’ ‘Save the Last Dance’ Performance Also Moved Her
The Heath Ledger tribute follows another nostalgic performance by Stiles and Sosa on the October 13 episode of Dancing With the Stars.
During Super Bowl Night, the pair performed a jazz routine inspired by Stiles’ 2001 dance drama Save the Last Dance. Their performance featured a remix of Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block” and included a surprise appearance by Sean Patrick Thomas, Stiles’ former co-star in the film.
The routine earned 33 out of 40 points from the judges, giving the pair their highest score of the season at that point.
Beyond the score, the audience response left a powerful impression on Stiles. She reflected on the continued affection viewers have for the film and what it means to see people still enjoying work she made decades earlier.
“I’m going to start crying,” she said of the fan response to that routine. “It is a dream for any performer to have people care. … Decades later, to know that people are still enjoying that movie, it means the world to me. And I got to do my do-over. I got a second chance.”
Her comments offer a glimpse into why returning to her earlier work through dance has been so meaningful.
Both the Save the Last Dance routine and the planned Ledger tribute allow Stiles to revisit important moments from her acting career in a new format. Instead of simply looking back, she gets to reinterpret those memories through performances alongside Sosa.
Stiles has described her overall experience on Dancing With the Stars as a “dream come true”. Although the demanding schedule has left her tired, she said the creative process has also given her energy.
“I mean, I’m tired, but it’s energizing too. I feel like every week we get to do something so creative,” she told People.
She has also said that learning to dance with Sosa has been particularly meaningful, adding that she feels fortunate to continue making a living as a performer.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Dedication Night 2026: Full Performance Lineup
According to ABC’s official announcement, Dedication Night will feature 10 celebrity-professional pairs honouring people and places that have shaped their lives. Former professional dancer Kym Johnson is scheduled to join the show as a guest judge.
The announced performances are as follows:
| Celebrity and professional partner | Dance and song | Dedication |
| Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa | Contemporary to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” | Heath Ledger |
| Jackson Olson and Emma Slater | Quickstep to Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E” | Olson’s mother, Laura |
| Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson | Foxtrot to John Mayer’s “Stop This Train” | Shum’s wife, Shelby |
| Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess | Contemporary to Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers” | Mothers |
| Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas | Paso doble to Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” | Ireland |
| Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov | Contemporary to Sia’s “Breathe Me” | Glenn’s sister, Brooke |
| Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik | Viennese waltz to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” | Her late The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery |
| Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach | Contemporary to Mon Rovîa’s “Bloodline” | Frech’s mother, Bahar |
| Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold | Viennese waltz to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” | Wood’s father, Pete |
| Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy | Viennese waltz to the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” | Dewan’s mother, Nancy |
Dewan is scheduled to perform with substitute partner Alan Bersten because Chmerkovskiy has been suspended for one week.
The lineup places Stiles’ tribute within an episode built around personal relationships, family history and meaningful connections. Each performance offers a different perspective on the people and places that have influenced the celebrities’ lives.
Why Jenna Dewan Will Dance With Alan Bersten Instead of Val Chmerkovskiy
Another development surrounding Dedication Night involves professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy and judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Following the October 13 episode, Chmerkovskiy posted a now-deleted TikTok video that appeared to reference the 2022 Oscars incident in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. The post followed criticism from Inaba of a performance involving Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson.
On October 17, BBC Studios, the production company behind Dancing With the Stars, announced that Chmerkovskiy would receive a one-week suspension.
The company said:
“The well-being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is non-negotiable.”
BBC Studios also stated that the social media post was inappropriate and did not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone associated with the show.
Chmerkovskiy subsequently apologised for the reference. He acknowledged that he had made a poor decision and explained that, while he had intended to defend his wife, he had not stopped to consider what the reference could imply.
As a result, Dewan is scheduled to dance with Bersten for Dedication Night. The change is separate from Stiles’ tribute to Ledger but forms part of the episode’s confirmed performance lineup.
When Does ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Dedication Night Air?
Viewers in the United States can watch Dedication Night on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+.
Episodes are scheduled to stream on Hulu the following day.
| Event detail | Information |
| Show | Dancing With the Stars |
| Special episode | Dedication Night |
| Air date | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Broadcast time | 8 p.m.–10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time |
| Platforms | ABC and Disney+ |
| Next-day streaming | Hulu |
| Guest judge | Kym Johnson |
| Julia Stiles’ dance partner | Ezra Sosa |
| Tribute song | “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli |
| Dedication | Heath Ledger |
Remembering a Television Personality
Tributes from colleagues and people connected to television can preserve memories of figures who made an impression on viewers. Our Amber Siyavus death and tribute report covers the reported tributes and the available information about her death.
Conclusion: Julia Stiles’ Heath Ledger Tribute Brings a Beloved Film Memory Back to Life
Julia Stiles’ upcoming Dancing With the Stars performance is shaping up to be a deeply personal return to one of the most memorable chapters of her career.
Preparing the tribute has brought back unexpected memories of Heath Ledger, with old photographs, familiar voices and clips from 10 Things I Hate About You making the experience more emotional than she anticipated.
By choosing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, Stiles and Ezra Sosa will revisit a scene that helped make the 1999 romantic comedy unforgettable. The dedication also follows the moving response to Stiles’ Save the Last Dance-inspired performance, reinforcing the lasting connection audiences have with her earlier work.
For Stiles, the moment is ultimately about honouring a co-star whose performance continues to live on through the film. Her tribute will bring that shared screen history into the present, giving audiences another opportunity to remember Ledger and the work that made him so memorable.
Source and Research Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on research of the sources provided, including reporting from People, ABC News, ABC’s official Dancing With the Stars announcement and Variety. The article reflects the information available in those sources and the supplied material at the time of writing. It does not imply independent verification beyond the information those sources support.
Sources
- People – Julia Stiles Says Preparing to Honor Heath Ledger on DWTS Is ‘Bringing Up a Lot’ of Emotions
- ABC News – Julia Stiles to Pay Tribute to Heath Ledger for Dedication Night
- ABC Press – Official Dancing With the Stars Dedication Night Announcement
- ABC News – Val Chmerkovskiy Benched After Inappropriate Social Media Post
- Variety – Julia Stiles Discusses Heath Ledger Tribute and DWTS Rehearsals
Featured Image Credit: ABC / Disney+
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