Julia Stiles might have some regrets that are catching up to her from almost twenty-five years ago.
The “Save the Last Dance” actress is competing on the 35th season of “Dancing With The Stars” alongside pro partner Ezra Sosa. Her association with the movie has caused multiple conversations centering around her dance abilities.
Stiles’ journey on the dance show has, however, been full of many surprises. Now, the Hollywood star is bringing her dance experience back into the spotlight with a recent comment.
Julia Stiles Says It Was ‘Wrong’ To Play Up Dance Training For ‘Save The Last Dance
While watching a video of herself from a “Save the Last Dance” interview in 2000, Stiles had a surprising reaction to herself.
“I enjoy working so much that it’s just sort of natural that I would focus on it, on achieving success and working hard,” a then 19-year-old Stiles could be heard saying.
Sosa, who was watching the video with the actress, could barely contain his laughter while she opened her mouth in shock.
“And actually, in this movie, the dance training that I had to do, I’ve put a lot of energy into. But it’s easy because it’s so much fun and I love to dance,” her younger self went on.
When the video was over, Stiles exclaimed at how young she was, referring to herself as a baby: “I personally cringe. I’m glad that people liked the movie, but I was such a baby!”
The Hollywood star then revealed that she felt she played up the dance training at the time in interviews, admitting, “That was really wrong.”
She went on to explain that a huge reason she wanted to come on “Dancing With The Stars” was to take what she had learned from that film and refresh it.
Julia Stiles Believed Her Association With ‘Save The Last Dance’ Was A Disadvantage on DWTS
Stiles’ reflection on her dance training also came as she previously acknowledged that her association with “Save the Last Dance” gave her a bit of a disadvantage, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
“I stopped taking dance classes after that movie because people expected me to be a great dancer,” she explained. “I’m a home dancer. I love dancing at home, and part of my reason for coming on this show is to, like, find the joy in dance again, find my confidence in dance again.”
Stiles said making the movie was great training, and while it was a wonderful opportunity, she felt quite self-conscious and tense, expressing that she wanted to let that go.
Julia Stiles Set The Record Straight On Her Dancing Skills Ahead Of ‘DWTS’
The “10 Things I Hate About You” actress’ dance ability has remained a topic of discussion since her involvement in the competitive dance show, and in September she set the record straight on the true extent of her skills.
Joining a TikTok trend, Stiles and Sosa responded to misconceptions about her professional dance training. She revealed that while she had gotten some training for the dance movie, she had neither danced before the movie nor did she continue to dance or receive training after it, almost three decades ago.
She also surprised fans by sharing that she had a body double who performed more of the harder, technical skills, as reported on The Blast.
Julia Stiles Received a Massive Apology From Juilliard School
The actress continued to dispel speculations surrounding her, including clearing the air that while Johnson, her character, attended Juilliard School, Stiles herself did not.
The institute, however, had a funny take on the situation. After they were called out for a post stating that Stiles did not attend Juilliard, they responded by sending the 40-year-old an alumni package for her and Sosa.
They included a cute note, saying they meant no shade in their earlier post, and that after the clerical error was fixed, her alumni gear was found under the name “Sara Johnson.”
The Blast reported that Stiles gushed over the gesture, saying it was so sweet.
Julia Stiles On How ‘DWTS’ Helped Her Reclaim Her Relationship With Fame
For Stiles, her appearance on “Dancing With The Stars” seems to be more than just showcasing her dance skills or gaining support. The experience has also become a deeply personal journey for her and her complicated relationship with fame.
Despite being in the spotlight at a very young age, Stiles admitted it scared her, causing her to run in the other direction. The actress spoke about how private she was, adding that she never chased the spotlight the way people probably expected her to.
By joining the show, the “Dexter” actress is reclaiming her comfort with being watched and rediscovering her love for performing. She credited Sosa with helping her regain confidence to come out of her shell, per The Blast.
