Julia Stiles to Honor Heath Ledger on Dancing With the Stars

Rehearsals for the performance proved more taxing than the actress anticipated. While Stiles initially believed she had gained enough emotional distance from the project, the process of revisiting the material brought unexpected grief. She admitted to being moved to tears during practice, noting the weight of honoring a co-star who died in 2008 at the age of 28. Partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa, Stiles will perform to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, the iconic Frankie Valli track Ledger famously sang in the film.

This tribute follows a recent performance where Stiles honored her other career-defining role in Save the Last Dance. Beyond the competition, the actress has expressed that her return to the spotlight is less about nostalgia and more about rediscovering her confidence as a performer. Reflecting on her time with Ledger, Stiles recalled a handwritten note he left her after production wrapped, which included a sentiment about living life without reservation—a memento she rediscovered years after his passing.