Beloved ’90s Actress Finally Reveals Why She Said ‘No’ to Dancing—Until Now

Quick Smiles:

• After years of turning down offers, Julia Stiles finally said yes to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 35
• She was so nervous meeting her dream partner Ezra Sosa that she was literally shaking with excitement
• The feeling was mutual—Ezra collapsed to the floor when he found out his partner was Julia Stiles

The season 35 cast of “Dancing with the Stars” was announced on September 2, 2026, and it’s packed with talent that’s making hearts skip a beat. One of the most exciting additions for the GenX and Millennial crowd is Julia Stiles—the actress who stole our hearts in beloved movies like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Down to You,” and “Save the Last Dance.”

She’s got some serious dancing talent, but for years she turned down the chance to appear on “DWTS.” Now, she’s finally opening up about why she kept saying no—and what changed her mind.

“It’s taken a couple of years,” she shared. “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.’”

So what made Season 35 different? Julia explained that this year, something just felt right.

“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 Stiles will be dancing with Ezra Sosa, who she really wanted as a partner. And when they first met, the excitement was palpable—in the most adorable way possible.

“I was so nervous. I was shaking. I was literally shaking,” Julia recalled of meeting Ezra. “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.”

The feeling was completely mutual. Ezra is a huge fan of Julia, so dancing with her made a dream come true for him too.

“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 said.

The wholesome chemistry between these two is already off the charts, and we haven’t even seen them dance yet! “DWTS” Season 35 debuts September 15 and September 16 on ABC and Disney+, and will stream the next day on Hulu.

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