Julia Stiles Says She’s Talked About DoingDWTS23 Years After IconicSave the Last DanceRole (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Julia Stiles photographed in New York City, January 2025.Photo:Alexandra Arnold

Alexandra Arnold

Almost 24 years after she starred in the cult hitSave the Last Dance,Julia Stilescan’t get enough of ABC’s long-running reality competitionDancing with the Stars.The actress, 43, who lives in New York City with her husband Preston Cook and their three sons, insists the show “is my Monday Night Football,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I’ll go down YouTube rabbit holes of watching old videos, and I have my favorite choreographers. We’ve talked about me doing it, but I live in New York City, so it would be hard. Maybe they could do an East Coast version.“Julia Stiles in ‘Save the Last Dance’.EverettStiles, who is making her directorial debut with the new filmWish You Were Here, starringKelsey GrammerandJennifer Grey, spoke to the magazine for One Last Thing:Last time I sang out loud:I have three little kids, so they all have their own [music]. My oldest son is Strummer, and he gets Clash songs; my middle son is Arlo, so I sing a lot of Arlo Guthrie; and my youngest is Henry, so I started singing Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther” to him. They aren’t sick of hearing me yet.Julia Stiles on the set of ‘Wish You Were Here’.LionsgateLast thing I learned about myself:How much I can function on very little sleep. As a mother and a director, I can still be perfectly capable. And how good I am at multitasking.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Julia Stiles and her husband Preston Cook.Jim Spellman/GettyLast moment of bliss:My oldest son came to visit me on the set ofWish You Were Here, and I thought he was going to be bored to tears. But he was actually captivated. As a mom, you feel guilty for being preoccupied with work even though it’s important, so to know he’s proud of his mom was wonderful.Last time I was starstruck:I was at a party, andTaylor Swiftshowed up. I wasn’t going to bother her, and she actually came over to me and said some really nice things. I was so taken aback, it was all a blur. But I know I stood in the presence of Taylor Swift, and she was really sweet.Wish You Were Hereis now streaming on demand.

Almost 24 years after she starred in the cult hitSave the Last Dance,Julia Stilescan’t get enough of ABC’s long-running reality competitionDancing with the Stars.

The actress, 43, who lives in New York City with her husband Preston Cook and their three sons, insists the show “is my Monday Night Football,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I’ll go down YouTube rabbit holes of watching old videos, and I have my favorite choreographers. We’ve talked about me doing it, but I live in New York City, so it would be hard. Maybe they could do an East Coast version.”

Julia Stiles in ‘Save the Last Dance’.Everett

Stiles, who is making her directorial debut with the new filmWish You Were Here, starringKelsey GrammerandJennifer Grey, spoke to the magazine for One Last Thing:

Last time I sang out loud:

I have three little kids, so they all have their own [music]. My oldest son is Strummer, and he gets Clash songs; my middle son is Arlo, so I sing a lot of Arlo Guthrie; and my youngest is Henry, so I started singing Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther” to him. They aren’t sick of hearing me yet.

Julia Stiles on the set of ‘Wish You Were Here’.Lionsgate

Lionsgate

Last thing I learned about myself:

How much I can function on very little sleep. As a mother and a director, I can still be perfectly capable. And how good I am at multitasking.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Julia Stiles and her husband Preston Cook.Jim Spellman/Getty

Last moment of bliss:

My oldest son came to visit me on the set ofWish You Were Here, and I thought he was going to be bored to tears. But he was actually captivated. As a mom, you feel guilty for being preoccupied with work even though it’s important, so to know he’s proud of his mom was wonderful.

Last time I was starstruck:

I was at a party, andTaylor Swiftshowed up. I wasn’t going to bother her, and she actually came over to me and said some really nice things. I was so taken aback, it was all a blur. But I know I stood in the presence of Taylor Swift, and she was really sweet.

Wish You Were Hereis now streaming on demand.

source: people.com