Julia Stiles honored her late “10 Things I Hate About You” co-star Heath Ledger on Tuesday night’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars.”
asserted
I → honor → Stars
For “Dedication Night,” the actress and her pro partner, Ezra Sosa, danced a contemporary to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” which Ledger sings to Stiles’ during the beloved 1999 rom-com.
asserted
Ledger → dance → com
“I learned a lot from Heath.
asserted
I → learn → Heath
He was so authentic,” Stiles gushed of her former colleague in a pre-recorded intro package before she and Sosa hit the ballroom.
asserted
she → gush → ballroom
Stiles said she was “so charmed” by Ledger and said acting alongside him was “so easy.”
“I have so many great memories, but I’m also sad because I really wish that I could pick up the phone and be like, ‘Hey, dude.
uncertain
I → say → phone
People really care about that movie.
asserted
People → care → movie
We did something special,’” she said, noting that she “can’t do that.”
asserted
she → do → that
Stiles concluded: “The spark in him that you see throughout that movie is what I’m trying to channel because life is too short and we should enjoy every minute that we have on this planet.”
asserted
we → conclude → planet
At the end of the routine, Stiles was joined by some of her “10 Things I Hate About You” castmates, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gabrielle Union.
asserted
I → join → Levitt
Stiles told co-host Julianne Hough that Ledger “brought out the light in everybody” around him and helped them “shine.”
asserted
them → tell → him
The routine earned Stiles and Sosa a 36/40.
asserted
routine → earn → 36/40
In “10 Things I Hate About You,” Stiles plays unsocial teenager Kat, who can’t date due to rules implemented by her overly protective single dad.
asserted
who → hate → dad
However, everything changes when Kat meets the charming Australian kid at school, Patrick (Ledger).
asserted
Kat → change → school
Earlier on Tuesday, Stiles and Sosa released a joint Instagram statement noting that they put “care, sensitivity, and “intention” into the performance dedicated to Ledger.
asserted
they → release → Ledger
“From the very beginning, it was incredibly important to [us] that this tribute be created with the utmost respect, thoughtfulness and close guidance from those who hold Heath and his memory closest,” the pair wrote.
asserted
pair → create → those
“This isn’t about defining a relationship or telling a story that isn’t ours to tell,” the statement continued.
asserted
statement → define → story
“It’s about honoring a beautiful moment in time, a film that changed so many lives, and someone whose impact continues to be felt by generations.”
asserted
impact → ’ → generations
Stiles, 45, and Sosa, 25, also said they “poured so much love” into the dance and were “incredibly grateful for the trust placed in us to bring it to life,” adding that their “only hope is that it honors his memory with the dignity, love, and respect it deserves.”
Stay one step ahead with all the exclusive tea on your favorite reality TV stars!
asserted
it → say → stars
During rehearsals for the live show, Stiles called making the film with Ledger “such a special moment in time.”
asserted
Stiles → call → time
“It’s amazing that people still care about that movie, and it’s just sad that we can’t celebrate it with him,” she said on the “DWTS” Instagram page.
asserted
she → ’ → page
Sosa said in the clip that he felt “honored and grateful” to choreograph the dance dedicated to the late actor.
asserted
he → say → actor
“We felt like this routine is so important, not just to honor Heath, but to celebrate the joy and capture his essence in that time you guys had together filming ’10 Things I Hate About You,'” Sosa added.
asserted
Sosa → feel → You
Stiles also teased there were “special surprises” planned for the dance.
asserted
Stiles → tease → dance
In an interview with People, Stiles admitted she was “actually surprised at how emotional” the rehearsals for the tribute dance were.
asserted
rehearsals → admit → dance
“I know from watching the show how emotional ‘Dedication Night’ is.
asserted
Night → know → show
It’s always very personal stories,” she explained.
asserted
she → ’ → ?
“But I thought, ‘Oh, I’m distanced enough from it.
asserted
I → think → it
“But something about watching clips from that movie — seeing our pictures, hearing our voices — is bringing up a lot,” she added.
asserted
she → watch → lot
Stiles also said she “felt [it was] important to honor” the Oscar-winning “Dark Knight” actor, noting that “he lives on because his performance in that film was so incredible.”
“Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.
For more of Page Six’s “Dancing With the Stars” coverage, click here.
asserted
Dancing → say → coverage
Conversation
Your voice matters.
asserted
voice → matter → ?
Discussions are moderated for civility.
asserted
Discussions → moderate → civility
The Aporia
