Julia Stiles is finally trading in her “Save the Last Dance” flats for ballroom shoes. The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress has joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 35, but her journey to the ballroom has been years in the making — largely because she kept saying no.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, the 45-year-old actress revealed that she had been asked to compete on ABC’s hit dance competition show multiple times over the years but repeatedly declined out of fear.
“It’s taken a couple of years,” she admitted. “They’ve asked me in previous years [and] every year I say, ‘Oh my God, I love the show, and I would love to go on, but I just can’t do it. I just can’t do it.'”
Why Julia Stiles Said No to DWTS for Years
Stiles’ hesitation about joining Dancing with the Stars wasn’t about scheduling conflicts or disinterest — it was deeply personal.
“For a number of reasons, the first one being my own fear,” she explained to PEOPLE. The actress, who has spent decades in front of cameras and on live theater stages, found the prospect of competing in ballroom dancing uniquely intimidating.
Her fear was compounded by a complicated relationship with dance. While she is best known by many for her role in the dance-heavy film Save the Last Dance, Stiles has been open about feeling self-conscious about her abilities.
As she told Entertainment Weekly, “I think it’s a bit of a disadvantage. To be honest, I stopped taking dance classes after that movie because people expected me to be a great dancer.”
Instead, she described herself as more of a “home dancer.” “I love dancing at home, and part of my reason for coming on this show was to find the joy in dance again … find my confidence in dance again,” she said.
Stiles also acknowledged that making Save the Last Dance left her feeling “very, very self-conscious and kind of tense,” adding that she wants to “let that go” through her DWTS experience.
What Finally Convinced Julia Stiles to Say Yes
After years of turning down the opportunity, something shifted for Stiles this year.
“This year I was like, ‘I’m scared I might say yes.’ The timing just felt right, and I was like, ‘You only live once,'” she told PEOPLE.
The actress is embracing the challenge with a new perspective, hoping to rediscover the joy in dancing that she once felt. “Making that movie, yeah, it was great training and it was a wonderful opportunity, but I felt very, very self-conscious and kind of tense. And I want to let that go,” she explained.
Julia Stiles’ ‘Save the Last Dance’ Connection
For many fans, Stiles’ casting on DWTS immediately brings to mind her iconic role as Sara Johnson in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance. The movie, which became a cultural touchstone, followed Stiles’ character as she pursued her dream of attending Juilliard while navigating hip-hop and ballet dance styles.
The connection has sparked humorous reactions online, with some fans joking that Stiles has an unfair advantage. One social media user declared, “That’s cheating. She went to Juilliard.” Another wrote, “Based on experience. No one else has a chance now.”
However, the joke misses a crucial detail: Stiles did not actually attend Juilliard. Her character did.
Did ‘Save the Last Dance’ Prepare Julia Stiles for DWTS?
The simple answer is no — and Stiles herself has been quick to clarify the distinction.
“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities that came from that movie but I am not a professional dancer,” she told Us Weekly after the cast reveal. “I just played pretend.”
Her partner, Ezra Sosa, was even more direct: “We are emphasizing that she did not actually get into Juilliard, people.”
While Stiles did take ballet classes as a child and teenager, she had no formal ballet or hip-hop training before being cast in the film. She underwent rigorous training for the role, including two months of preparation before filming and weekend choreography rehearsals.
“I had to bust my butt to get in shape. And also, you know, catch up to the level that Sara — or, at least, look like I could catch up to — I could be at the level that Sara was supposed to be at,” Stiles recalled.
She did most of her own hip-hop dancing and much of the ballet, though she used a double for pointe work. But as she has repeatedly emphasized, this preparation was for a movie role, not professional dance training.
Who Is Julia Stiles’ DWTS Partner?
Stiles has been partnered with Ezra Sosa for Season 35. Sosa has been a DWTS pro since Season 33 and made it to third place last year with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles.
Stiles was particularly excited about the pairing, revealing that she wanted to be partnered with Sosa “so badly.”
“I was so nervous. I was shaking. I was literally shaking,” Stiles said of meeting Sosa for the first time. “And I was like, ‘Wait a minute. I have spent a career in front of cameras. I’ve done live theater. Why am I shaking?’ [But it was] because this is so special.”
Sosa admitted he was equally starstruck. “It’s also surreal when you have Julia Stiles walk in the door and she’s your partner, and the first thing she says is, ‘I’m so starstruck.’ I collapsed to the floor,” he told PEOPLE.
“It was weird because I felt like we were both equally nervous. And you were shaking; I was shaking too, like very much so,” he continued.
Sosa has praised Stiles’ work ethic and dedication. “I’m very impressed by her. I am very impressed by her work ethic, her drive, and just to see her growth in the two weeks. It makes me super excited to see her growth and her journey on the show,” he said.
Julia Stiles Joins the DWTS Season 35 Cast
Stiles was announced as part of the Season 35 cast on September 2, 2026, during Good Morning America. She joins a 16-celebrity cast that includes actors, musicians, athletes, and other notable figures.
Other notable contestants this season include Jenna Dewan, who has professional dance experience, and Olympian Amber Glenn. The show’s producers have emphasized that casting isn’t about prior dance experience but about contestants’ willingness to commit to the process.
Julia Stiles’ Acting Career
For readers who may know Stiles primarily from Save the Last Dance, her career extends far beyond that single film. She first gained widespread attention for her role as Kat Stratford in the 1999 classic 10 Things I Hate About You opposite Heath Ledger.
Stiles also appeared in the Bourne franchise, the television series Dexter, and the critically acclaimed film Hustlers. In 2025, she made her feature directorial debut with Wish You Were Here.
Her body of work has earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, demonstrating her range as both an actress and now a director.
What Makes DWTS Different From Movie Dancing
The transition from acting in a dance-focused film to competing on a live dance competition is significant. Movie choreography is carefully rehearsed and can be shot in multiple takes, allowing for perfection through editing. Ballroom competition, by contrast, requires live performance under the scrutiny of judges and millions of viewers.
The ballroom techniques required for DWTS — including the cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, and other formal dances — are distinct from the hip-hop and ballet that Stiles performed in Save the Last Dance. Each week, contestants must learn new choreography, adapt to different dance styles, and perform live.
Stiles has acknowledged the challenge. As she told Entertainment Weekly, her previous film experience might actually work against her because people expect her to be a great dancer, a pressure that has contributed to her self-consciousness.
What to Expect From Julia Stiles on Dancing With the Stars
As she prepares for her DWTS debut, Stiles is managing her nerves with a healthy perspective. She admitted that her anxiety “comes in waves” but that she views it as a positive force.
“I don’t want the nerves to get in the way,” she explained. “I think nerves are a good thing when they make you stand at attention; they make you focus, you just don’t want to be overwhelmed by them.”
“I feel great now because we got GMA out of the way, but now we’re looking at premiere night, and I’m just mentally preparing,” she added.
Her goal is clear: to rediscover the joy in dancing that she lost after years of feeling pressure and self-consciousness. Whether or not she takes home the Mirrorball Trophy, Stiles is already succeeding in taking on a challenge she had long avoided.
When Does Julia Stiles’ DWTS Journey Begin?
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premieres with a two-night event on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The show airs on ABC and streams on Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
Fans can expect to see Stiles and Sosa take the ballroom floor during the premiere week, where they will perform their first competitive dance and face the judges’ scores.
Why Julia Stiles’ DWTS Debut Is Getting Attention
Stiles’ casting has generated significant buzz for several reasons. The Save the Last Dance connection is an obvious hook — for many viewers, she will always be the aspiring dancer from the 2001 film. Her repeated refusal to join the show over the years has only heightened interest in her eventual acceptance.
The contrast between her film role and her real-life self-consciousness about dancing adds a compelling human element to her journey. Fans who grew up watching her movies are now watching her face a very real, very personal challenge on live television.
As one social media user put it, “That’s literally MOTHER. This partnership is going to change lives.” Another declared, “yeah so this is my team.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Julia Stiles turn down Dancing with the Stars for years?
Julia Stiles repeatedly declined invitations to join Dancing with the Stars because of her own fear and self-consciousness about dancing. She has admitted that she felt anxious about the prospect and was hesitant to put herself in that position.
2. Is Julia Stiles joining Dancing with the Stars in 2026?
Yes, Julia Stiles is a contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 35, which premieres on September 15, 2026. She was announced as part of the cast on September 2, 2026.
3. Who is Julia Stiles’ DWTS partner?
Julia Stiles has been partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa for Season 35. Sosa has been a DWTS pro since Season 33 and placed third last year with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles.
4. Was Julia Stiles a dancer before joining DWTS?
While Stiles took ballet classes as a child and teenager, she was never a professional dancer. She underwent intensive training for Save the Last Dance but has emphasized that she is not a trained dancer.
5. Did Julia Stiles really dance in Save the Last Dance?
Yes, Stiles performed most of her own dancing in Save the Last Dance. She did her own hip-hop routines and most of the ballet, though she used a double for pointe work. She trained extensively for the role.
6. What is Julia Stiles known for?
Julia Stiles is known for her roles in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Save the Last Dance (2001), the Bourne franchise, Dexter, and Hustlers. She also made her feature directorial debut in 2025 with Wish You Were Here.
7. When does Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere?
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 has a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.
8. What happened to Julia Stiles’ dancing career after Save the Last Dance?
After Save the Last Dance, Stiles stopped taking dance classes because people expected her to be a great dancer. She has described herself as a “home dancer” and is using her DWTS experience to rediscover the joy in dancing.