Julia Stiles wanted to make sure her tribute to late costar Heath Ledger came with the approval of someone closest to him. Before dedicating her Dancing with the Stars performance to the beloved actor, Stiles reached out to Michelle Williams, who gave her blessing.

During the October 20 episode of the competition series, themed Dedication Night, Stiles and her professional dance partner, Ezra Sosa, performed an emotional contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The performance paid homage to one of the most memorable scenes from the 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, in which Ledger’s character, Patrick Verona, serenades Stiles’ Kat Stratford from the school bleachers.

“I did ask Michelle if this was OK, and she said yes,” Stiles told Extra, adding that she could not speak for how Ledger’s family felt about the tribute.

Julia Stiles says the tribute was an emotional experience

The performance proved to be more than a nostalgic look back at a beloved film. Stiles described the preparation process as deeply personal, crediting Sosa for helping her navigate the emotions that surfaced during rehearsals.

“This has been an incredible week. The whole experience has been incredible, but this particular week was very transformative for me,” she explained.

Stiles recalled breaking down in tears on the first day of rehearsals as memories of Ledger and their time on set came flooding back. She also acknowledged that the experience brought up feelings she initially struggled to understand.

According to Stiles, Sosa recognized what she was going through and adjusted their approach to the choreography, helping her work through those emotions. She expressed gratitude for his sensitivity and support throughout the process.

The 10 Things I Hate About You cast reunites to honor Heath Ledger

Stiles also wanted the tribute to celebrate the entire film family rather than rely on a single person to represent Ledger and the movie.

She reached out to her former costars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik and Andrew Keegan, along with the film’s writers. The result was a surprise reunion that brought several members of the original cast together during the Dancing with the Stars episode.

“When we decided we were going to do the dedication, we needed to have somebody here to sort of represent the movie or represent Heath, and I was like, it has to be the whole cast,” Stiles said. “Can’t just be one person.”

She explained that the group came together after agreeing to participate if everyone else joined in, turning the tribute into a collective celebration of the film and the people behind it.

Stiles also remembered Ledger fondly, describing him as a joyful presence who helped make the movie’s set a special place to work.

“He was just a beacon of light,” she said. “He was the leader of the pack of those of us kids, and he was always very playful and made it such a fun set to be on and brought out delight in everyone.”

Ledger died in 2008 at age 28 from an accidental drug overdose. Nearly two decades later, the actor continues to be remembered for his performances and the lasting impression he left on his costars.

Meanwhile, Dancing with the Stars is heading into its next round of competition. The remaining 10 couples will take on Halloween-themed Horror Movie Night, with a double elimination scheduled for the following week.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.

Source: Compiled from various sources