Julia Stiles paid tribute to someone who played a special role in her life and career during an emotional appearance on Dancing with the Stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli\u2019s classic hit \u201cCan\u2019t Take My Eyes Off You\u201d during the show\u2019s Dedication Night on Tuesday\u2019s episode of Season 35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song was a particularly meaningful choice for fans of the 1999 film. In one of its most memorable scenes, Ledger\u2019s character, Patrick Verona, serenades Stiles\u2019 character, Kat Stratford, from the school bleachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The performance also included a nod to another memorable moment from the movie. At the end of the dance, Stiles recited a poem she originally read to Ledger in the film, with several of their former co-stars joining her: Susan May Pratt, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Keegan, Larisa Oleynik and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The judges awarded the pair four nines for their performance, according to Variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before taking the stage, Stiles opened up about the meaning behind the performance in a TikTok video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are dancing contemporary to Frankie Valli\u2019s \u2018Can\u2019t Take My Eyes Off of You,\u2019 because I\u2019m dedicating this dance to Heath Ledger,\u201d she said in the clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaking 10 Things I Hate About You with him was such a special moment in time. \u201cI learned a lot from Heath\u2026 It was so easy with him. I have so many great memories. I really wish I could pick up the phone, and be like, \u2018Hey dude.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing that people still care about that movie, and it\u2019s just sad that we can\u2019t celebrate it with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sosa also addressed the performance\u2019s significance in a tribute shared on Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever approached a performance with more care, sensitivity, and intention than this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom the very beginning, it was incredibly important to both Julia and I that this tribute be created with the utmost respect, thoughtfulness, and close guidance from those who hold Heath and his memory closest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dancer explained that the tribute \u201cisn\u2019t about defining a relationship or telling a story that isn\u2019t ours to tell.\u201d He added, \u201cIt\u2019s about honoring a beautiful moment in time, a film that changed so many lives, and someone whose impact continues to be felt by generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve poured so much love into this piece, and we\u2019re incredibly grateful for the trust placed in us to bring it to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur only hope is that it honors his memory with the dignity, love, and respect it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ledger died in 2008 following an accidental overdose. He was 28 at the time of his death and was survived by his daughter, Matilda, whom he shared with his former partner, actress Michelle Williams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tribute drew its meaning from shared memories rather than spectacle alone. A familiar song, the return of former cast members, and the words of the poem connected the television performance with a film that viewers still remember. For Stiles, that connection also carried the sadness of celebrating a lasting piece of work without the colleague who had helped make it special. The routine allowed appreciation and grief to occupy the same moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n