Julia Stiles Recalls Working with Heath Ledger in10 Things I Hate About You: 'He Was Such a Force'

Mar. 15, 2025

Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in10 Things I Hate About You(1999).Photo:Courtesy Everett Collection

Courtesy Everett Collection

Julia Stilesis rememberingHeath Ledgerfondly as the 17th anniversary of his death approaches.

Stiles, 43, made an appearance onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenon Monday, Jan. 13, where she looked back at working with other well-known actors, including the late Ledger on their 1999 teen romantic comedy10 Things I Hate About You.

“He was such a force,” said Stiles, who is making her directorial debut with the romantic dramaWish You Were Here, which she also wrote the screenplay for.

“He walked into a room and just lit it up and had so much energy and passion, and it’s really sad that he’s gone,” she added.

Ledger wasfound dead on Jan. 22, 2008. A toxicology report revealed afatal mix of prescription drugsin the 28-year-old’s system.

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Speaking with PEOPLE amid10 Things I Hate About You’s 25th anniversary last year, directorGil Junger, said he “cast [Heath] basically before he even spoke.”

“[Heath] walked in the room in one of these big casting sessions … I swear on my parents' life, I thought, ‘If this f—er can speak English, I’m going to cast him,’ " recalled Junger, 70. “He just hadan energy that was undeniable.”

So undeniable, in fact, “I liked Heath so much as a person that I would literally ride to and back from work with him just to spend more time with him,” the director added.

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Heath Ledger in10 Things I Hate About You(1999).Buena Vista/courtesy Everett Collection

Buena Vista/courtesy Everett Collection

Adapted from William Shakespeare’sTaming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About Youfollows Kat Stratford (Stiles), a cynical, intelligent high-school senior who dreams of leaving her West Coast town for Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

OnWWHL, Stiles was asked whether she enjoyed working on10 ThingsorSave the Last Dance(2001) more — and she noted that the latter film was “a whole different experience,” as she “put a lot of pressure on” herself during production.

“10 Things, it was like, fun!” she said, comparing the two. “And it was [my] first time doing a big studio movie like that, and I love that character so much. We had a great time.”

Wish You Were Hereis in theaters Friday, Jan. 17.Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenairs Sunday-Thursday evenings on Bravo.

source: people.com