Heath Ledger changed the game for superhero films with his unforgettable turn as the Joker. But years before he became the gold standard for playing a comic book villain, the actor found his breakthrough in the beloved 1999 romcom 10 Things I Hate About You, alongside Julia Stiles. Now, nearly two decades after Ledger's passing, Stiles is honoring the film that brought them together with a touching performance on the dance reality show, Dancing with the Stars. 

While discussing the performance, Stiles revealed that honoring her late co-star was something she wanted to approach with the utmost care, respect, and sensitivity.

Julia Stiles paid a heartfelt tribute to her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger during Tuesday's Dedication Night episode of Dancing With the Stars, with her partner, Ezra Sosa. Speaking to PEOPLE about the performance, Stiles opened up about the responsibility she felt to honor Ledger's legacy. 

"I think we both felt a responsibility to be respectful, to honor him in a way that felt authentic and sincere. And we wanted to handle it delicately"

Stiles and Sosa, as they shared with PEOPLE, took on a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s 'Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,' a song that holds a special place in 10 Things I Hate About You fans’ hearts. The track famously played during the film’s iconic scene, in which Ledger’s character, Patrick Verona, serenades Stiles’ Kat Stratford from the bleachers while she practices soccer. The performance offered a nostalgic nod to the beloved 1999 romcom and a touching way to honor Ledger’s enduring legacy.

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The emotional tribute was a deeply personal way for those who knew the late actor to celebrate his memory and honor his lasting legacy.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Julia Stiles revealed that she and Ezra Sosa wanted their routine to capture the different layers of Heath Ledger’s iconic serenade. While Sosa suggested opening with a more somber, acoustic arrangement, Stiles felt the performance also needed to recreate the big, brassy moment that made the original scene so captivating. The actress explained that blending the two elements allowed them to strike the right balance and pay homage to the late actor’s unforgettable energy.

The tribute also turned into a mini 10 Things I Hate About You reunion, with Stiles bringing together several of her and Ledger’s former co-stars, including Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, and Larisa Oleynik. Stiles also slipped into a blue dress that appeared to be a subtle nod to an outfit she wore in the beloved 1999 romcom, giving fans yet another reason to reminisce about the iconic film.

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What do you think about Julia Stiles' tribute? Let us know in the comments!