Julia Stiles, who starred as aspiring ballet dancer Sara Johnson in the 2001 film "Save the Last Dance," believes her acting experience in a dance-centric role could be a detriment as she prepares for Season 35 of "Dancing With the Stars." The actress will compete against 15 other celebrities when the show premieres this fall.
Stiles, 45, stated that while the film provided valuable training, it also created a self-consciousness around dance. "I think it’s a bit of a disadvantage," she told Entertainment Weekly. "To be honest, I stopped taking dance classes after that movie because people expected me to be a great dancer."
She described herself as more of a "home dancer" now and expressed a desire to rediscover the joy and confidence in dance through her participation in the show. "Part of my reason for coming on this show was to find the joy in dance again … find my confidence in dance again," Stiles said. "Making that movie, yeah, it was great training and it was a wonderful opportunity, but I felt very, very self-conscious and kind of tense. And I want to let that go."
ABC confirmed Stiles will be partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa. The "Prince & Me" actress has previously referred to "DWTS" as her version of "Monday Night Football," indicating a strong fan interest in the competition.
Another "DWTS" contestant, Jenna Dewan, also known for her role in the "Step Up" film series, addressed similar concerns about her dance background. Dewan clarified that her training is in a different style and does not directly translate to ballroom dancing, stating, "Let’s be clear, it’s two different languages."