@future.hype3: Julia Stiles wanted to make sure her emotional tribute to Heath Ledger was handled with care. Before honoring her late co-star on Dancing with the Stars, she reached out to someone who knew him on a deeply personal level: Michelle Williams. The 45-year-old actress revealed that she asked Williams for permission to dedicate her performance to Ledger. Williams, who shares a daughter with the late actor, gave her blessing. "I did ask Michelle if this was OK and she said yes," Stiles told Extra after her performance on Dedication Night. The tribute celebrated their beloved 1999 romantic comedy, 10 Things I Hate About You, in which Stiles and Ledger played love interests. Stiles and professional dance partner Ezra Sosa performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" — the same song Ledger famously sang in the film. Stiles remembered Ledger as a "beacon of light" and the leader of their cast, describing him as playful and someone who brought out the best in others. The most moving moment came at the end of the dance, when several former castmates joined her onstage. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Keegan, Larisa Oleynik, and Susan May Pratt reunited to honor their former co-star. Their performance earned Stiles and Sosa 36 out of 40 points, but the emotional meaning went beyond the competition. Ledger passed away in 2008 at just 28. His daughter with Williams, Matilda, is now 20. Nearly two decades later, the film's cast came together to celebrate a performer whose impact clearly remains close to their hearts. Sometimes, a tribute becomes more than a performance — it becomes a way to keep someone's memory alive. Did Heath Ledger's performance in 10 Things I Hate About You leave a lasting impression on you? \#JuliaStiles #HeathLedger #MichelleWilliams #DWTS #10ThingsIHateAboutYou

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Thursday 22 October 2026 20:10:00 GMT