Julia Stiles made sure she had Michelle Williams’ blessing before paying tribute to her late friend and former co-star Heath Ledger on Dancing With the Stars.
The actress delivered an emotional performance inspired by the 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, reuniting much of the film’s cast on the ballroom stage. However, one familiar face was missing from the gathering: David Krumholtz, who later explained why he could not attend.
Speaking to Extra after the performance, Stiles revealed that she had reached out to Williams, Ledger’s former partner, to ask whether the tribute was appropriate.
“I did ask Michelle if this was OK, and she said yes,” Stiles said.
The actress declined to speculate about how Ledger’s wider family might feel about the performance, explaining: “I don’t really want to speak for them.”
Williams and Ledger were in a relationship from 2004 to 2007 and share a daughter, Matilda.
Julia Stiles Recreates a Beloved 10 Things I Hate About You Moment
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For her tribute, Stiles danced to Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” a song closely associated with 10 Things I Hate About You.
The performance served as a heartfelt homage to the film, which starred Stiles and Ledger and remains a favourite among fans decades after its release.
The special reunion brought several members of the original cast back together on the Dancing With the Stars stage on Tuesday. Among those joining Stiles were Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan.
The gathering celebrated the enduring popularity of the 1999 film and its lasting connection with audiences, while also remembering Ledger, who died in 2008.
Speaking to Variety after the performance, Stiles said she had been determined to bring as many of her former co-stars together as possible.
“I begged them, each and every one of them, and they all rallied. They really did,” she said.
Reflecting on how meaningful the moment was, Stiles added: “At 17 years old, I never would have thought that I’d be here at 45, celebrating my body, dancing on the show that I absolutely love and that fans are still interested in this movie and still moved and touched by this movie.”
David Krumholtz Reveals Why He Missed the Reunion
While the reunion delighted fans, some viewers noticed that David Krumholtz was absent from the gathering.
Krumholtz played Michael, the nerdy friend of Gordon-Levitt’s character, Cameron, in 10 Things I Hate About You.
The actor addressed his absence in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday, explaining that professional commitments had prevented him from travelling to Los Angeles.
“I could not be in L.A. for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ last night. I would have loved loved loved to have been there,” he said.
He also praised his former castmates, adding: “Everyone looked so amazing.”
Although he could not join the reunion in person, Krumholtz made clear that he was deeply moved by Stiles’ tribute to Ledger, whom he described as a dear friend.
“Julia’s tribute to my dear friend, who I miss every single day, was amazing and stunning, and I’m so proud of her,” he said.
Stiles responded warmly in the comments, writing: “We love you Krumholtz!”
A Tribute to a Film and a Friendship That Endures
The reunion offered a chance to celebrate the legacy of 10 Things I Hate About You while honouring the memory of Ledger, whose performance helped make the film a lasting favourite.
For Stiles, the occasion was also a personal milestone. Returning to the ballroom at 45 to dance in tribute to a film she made as a teenager was an experience she had never imagined when she was 17.
By asking Williams for permission before proceeding, Stiles also showed that she wanted the tribute to be handled with sensitivity toward Ledger’s personal life and the family he left behind.
And although Krumholtz was unable to attend because he was filming a movie in upstate New York, his heartfelt message made clear that he shared in the emotion of the moment from afar.
Together, the performance and reunion brought the cast back into the spotlight, reminding fans of the film’s lasting impact and the friendship and memories that continue to connect those who made it.