Julia Stiles asked Michelle Williams for permission before Heath Ledger tribute

Julia Stiles sought Michelle Williams’ approval before paying tribute to her late friend and co-star Heath Ledger during an emotional performance on Dancing With the Stars.

The actress honoured Ledger through a dance set to Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, recreating a memorable moment from their 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. Speaking to Extra after the performance, Stiles confirmed that she had contacted Williams, Ledger’s former partner, before going ahead with the tribute.

“I did ask Michelle if this was OK, and she said yes,” Stiles said.

Williams and Ledger were in a relationship from 2004 to 2007 and share a daughter, Matilda. Stiles declined to speculate about how Ledger’s family might feel about the performance, explaining that she did not want to speak on their behalf.

The tribute also brought together several members of the original film’s cast on the Dancing With the Stars stage. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan joined Stiles for the reunion, celebrating the enduring popularity of the teen comedy.

However, David Krumholtz, who played Michael in the film, was notably absent. He addressed his absence in a video posted on Instagram, explaining that he was in upstate New York filming a movie and could not travel to Los Angeles for the event.

Krumholtz said he would have loved to attend and praised the reunion, describing Stiles’ tribute to Ledger as “amazing and stunning”. He also expressed how much he continued to miss his late friend.

Stiles responded warmly in the comments, writing, “We love you Krumholtz!”

Speaking to Variety after the performance, Stiles said she had personally encouraged every cast member to take part. She also reflected on the unexpected experience of returning to a film that continues to resonate with audiences decades after its release.