Julia Stiles reveals fear made her reject Dancing with the Stars for years
The Save the Last Dance actress is finally heading to the ballroom after repeatedly turning down producers and has been paired with professional Ezra Sosa.
Julia Stiles has revealed she repeatedly turned down Dancing with the Stars because she was frightened of competing – before finally deciding “you only live once” and signing up for the ballroom.
The 45-year-old actress will compete with professional dancer Ezra Sosa in season 35 of the ABC competition, which begins with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16.
The full celebrity cast was unveiled on Good Morning America this week, with Julia joining a lineup that includes Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali and Olympic champion Amber Glenn.
Speaking to People at Good Morning America, Julia revealed producers had been trying to persuade her to enter the competition for several years.
She said: “It’s taken a couple of years. 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’.”
Julia admitted nerves had been one of the biggest reasons she previously rejected the opportunity.
She said: “For a number of reasons, the first one being my own fear. 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’.”
Julia had particularly wanted to work with Ezra, who became a professional dancer on the programme in season 33 and finished third last season alongside Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles.
Despite spending decades acting in front of cameras, Julia said she found herself physically shaking when she finally met her new partner.
She said: “I was so nervous. I was shaking. I was literally shaking. 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.”
Ezra said the feeling was mutual after discovering that the Hollywood star would be his celebrity partner.
He added: “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 added: “It was weird because I felt like we were both equally nervous. And you were shaking; I was shaking too, like very much so.”
Julia’s appearance has inevitably revived memories of Save the Last Dance, the 2001 romantic drama in which she played aspiring ballerina Sara Johnson.
However, she has said her experience making the film could work against her on Dancing with the Stars.
Julia explained expectations about her dancing following the movie made her self-conscious and contributed to her stopping dance classes.
Her other defining role came as Kat Stratford opposite Heath Ledger in the 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, which turned Julia into one of the most recognisable young actresses of her generation.
She subsequently played CIA operative Nicky Parsons alongside Matt Damon in the Bourne franchise and appeared in Mona Lisa Smile, Silver Linings Playbook and Hustlers.
Her television work includes Dexter, for which she received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, as well as Riviera.
Julia has also moved behind the camera, making her feature directing debut with the 2025 romantic drama Wish You Were Here, adapted from Renée Carlino’s novel.
She has since completed the psychological thriller series Recap alongside Corey Stoll, and will appear in the forthcoming holiday road-trip comedy Unbearable Christmas with Alex Moffat and Caroline Rhea.
For now, Julia is preparing to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy and said her anxiety about performing comes and goes.
She said: “I don’t want the nerves to get in the way. 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.”
After completing the cast announcement on Good Morning America, Julia said: “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.”
Ezra said: “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.”
Dancing with the Stars season 35 premieres on ABC and Disney+ on September 15 and 16, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
