Julia Stiles Asked Michelle Williams for Permission for Heath Ledger Tribute on DWTS

Julia Stiles confirmed that she asked Michelle Williams for permission before performing an emotional tribute to their late co-star Heath Ledger on "Dancing with the Stars." Stiles, 45, revealed that she reached out to Williams, 46, the mother of Ledger's only child, ahead of the Dedication Night performance.

"I did ask Michelle if this was OK and she said yes," Stiles told Extra TV. She starred alongside Ledger in the 1999 film "10 Things I Hate About You." When asked about Ledger's family's potential reaction, Stiles stated, "I can't speak on that, I don't want to speak for them, I'm sorry."

Stiles explained her desire to involve the entire "10 Things I Hate About You" cast in the tribute. "When we decided we were going to do the dedication, we needed to have somebody here to sort of represent the movie and represent Heath," she said. "I was like, 'It has to be the whole cast, it can't just be one person, it's got to be everybody."

She described Ledger as a "beacon of light" and "the leader of the pack" on set, noting his playful nature made the set enjoyable and brought out the best in everyone.

Stiles and her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," a song Ledger's character famously sang to Stiles's character in their film. Stiles wore a blue, shimmering dress for the performance. At the conclusion of the choreography, a picture of Stiles and Ledger from "10 Things I Hate About You" was displayed on screen. This was followed by Stiles being joined by several castmates from the film, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, Larisa Oleynik, and Gabrielle Union. The group stood together, looking at the image, before sharing an embrace.

Their dance received a score of 36 out of 40. Social media users reacted emotionally to the tribute, with many expressing they were moved to tears by the performance and the reunion of the "10 Things I Hate About You" cast.

During a pre-performance video package, Stiles reflected on her bond with Ledger, stating, "I learned a lot from Heath. It was so easy with him." She added, "I have so many great memories. I really wish I could pick up the phone, and be like, 'Hey dude.'"

Speaking to Variety, Stiles emphasized the importance of the entire cast's involvement, saying, "If we had to have someone with us on stage representing Heath's legacy or the film, I said it had to be the whole cast. I begged them, each and every one of them, and they all rallied. They really did."

She also expressed gratitude for the ongoing fan interest in the film and her career, noting, "At 17 years old, I never would have thought that I'd be here at 45, celebrating my body, dancing on the show that I absolutely love, and that fans are still interested in this movie and still moved and touched by this movie."

Heath Ledger died in January 2008 from an accidental overdose at the age of 28. His relationship with Michelle Williams began in 2004, and they welcomed their daughter, Matilda, in 2005. The couple separated in 2007.