Julia Stiles is preparing an especially personal performance for the upcoming Dancing With the Stars Dedication Night.
The actress plans to honor her late 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger during the October 20 episode. Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa are set to perform a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
A tribute rooted in movie history
Stiles and Ledger became closely associated in pop culture through the 1999 teen classic, and their performances remain beloved more than two decades later. The planned dance gives Stiles an opportunity to celebrate that shared history on one of the season’s most emotional nights.
Dedication Night traditionally asks the celebrity contestants to honor an important person or influence in their lives. This season’s lineup includes several deeply personal routines, but Stiles’ tribute is likely to attract particular attention from fans of Ledger and the film.
Ledger died in 2008 at age 28. His work, including his Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight, continues to have a lasting impact on audiences and fellow actors.