Julia Stiles’ Iconic Roles: Why She’ll Always Be Hollywood’s Smart Girl Next Door
Julia Stiles is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, known for her mix of fierce intelligence, emotional depth, and on-screen charisma. From her breakout roles in teen dramas to high-stakes action franchises, the variety in Julia Stiles movies and TV shows has kept fans captivated for decades. Whether you're reminiscing about classic early 2000s films or curious about her more recent work, this article explores her best performances and the legacy she's built in film and television.
Who Is Julia Stiles?
Before diving into her filmography, it’s worth learning a bit about Julia Stiles herself. Born in New York City in 1981, Julia began acting at the age of 11 with stage productions and quickly transitioned into film and TV. She attended Columbia University while acting professionally—a testament to her strong academic drive and work ethic.
Julia Stiles’ Breakout Role: 10 Things I Hate About You
The Movie That Launched a Generation
When we talk about Julia Stiles movies, it’s impossible not to begin with 10 Things I Hate About You
Her chemistry with the late Heath Ledger was unforgettable, and her iconic poem-reading scene still resonates with audiences today. The film helped solidify Julia as a leading lady of teen cinema.
Julia Stiles Dance Movie: Save the Last Dance
A Cultural Touchstone of the Early 2000s
One of the most frequently searched terms about the actress is "Julia Stiles dance movie"—and for good reason.
This movie tackled issues of race, ambition, and identity while featuring incredible dance sequences. Julia’s performance was both emotionally raw and physically impressive, and it showed a new dimension of her acting capabilities.
Expanding Her Range: The Bourne Franchise
Julia Stiles in Action-Packed Thrillers
While many remember her for romantic dramas, Julia Stiles movies and TV shows also include high-octane thrillers like the
From The Bourne Identity (2002) to Jason Bourne (2016), her character evolved from a minor role to someone pivotal in the franchise. These films not only proved her versatility but also introduced her to a broader, global audience.
Underrated Gems and Indie Films
Exploring Julia Stiles’ Indie Side
Julia Stiles has never shied away from smaller, character-driven films. Some underrated Julia Stiles movies worth checking out include:
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The Business of Strangers
(2001) – A psychological drama where Stiles stars opposite Stockard Channing. -
Mona Lisa Smile (2003) – A period drama with Julia Roberts, where Stiles plays a Wellesley student conflicted between tradition and ambition.
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The Prince and Me (2004) – A romantic comedy that added a fairy tale touch to her career portfolio.
Each of these films showcases her ability to shift genres seamlessly while maintaining a powerful screen presence.
Julia Stiles on Television: Recent Projects
Returning to the Small Screen
While most fans focus on Julia Stiles movies, her recent television roles have been equally compelling. One standout performance is her lead role in the thriller series
Stiles also appeared in Season 5 of Dexter (2010), earning critical praise for her portrayal of a trauma survivor with a dark side. These roles reaffirmed her acting depth and her ability to captivate audiences across formats.
What’s Next for Julia Stiles?
Julia Stiles continues to take on diverse roles both in front of and behind the camera. In recent interviews, she has expressed interest in directing and writing, showing her commitment to evolving in the industry.
Whether she’s dancing in Chicago, solving mysteries in CIA offices, or delivering Shakespearean monologues, Julia Stiles remains a force in Hollywood.
From 10 Things I Hate About You to
Whether you're revisiting her iconic Julia Stiles dance movie, exploring her deeper indie projects, or watching her latest TV roles, there’s no denying that Julia Stiles continues to shape and redefine her legacy in the entertainment world.
Dad with deadly brain cancer that kills in a year is cancer free after taking new drug
A breakthrough drug is fighting brain cancer head-on.
Glioblastoma is widely considered the deadliest form of brain cancer, killing over 10,000 Americans each year. There is no cure for the highly aggressive disease — many patients survive just nine months after diagnosis.
Ben Trotman was diagnosed with glioblastoma in October 2022 at 40.
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and extending life via surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible and radiation therapy and chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells.
Now, researchers from University College London Hospitals are recruiting glioblastoma patients for a trial of the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab. Sold under the brand name Yervoy, the monoclonal antibody stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Oncologists are optimistic since a UK father shows no signs of having a tumor after he took ipilimumab before his glioblastoma treatment.
Ben Trotman was diagnosed with glioblastoma in October 2022 at 40.
“The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy,” said Dr. Paul Mulholland, the consultant medical oncologist leading the trial.
“We saw with Ben, the one patient recruited to the immunotherapy study, NeAT-GLIO, that he has had clear scans since having the treatment and the tumor hasn’t returned more than two and a half years later.”
Glioblastoma is widely considered the deadliest form of brain cancer, killing over 10,000 Americans each year.
Trotman met with Mulholland, who enrolled him in a clinical trial for ipilimumab. He was the first patient in the world — and the only person in the trial — to take the drug before glioblastoma treatment.
“Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience,” said Trotman’s wife, Emily.
“We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live.”
After taking the drug, Ben underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Two years and eight months later, his scans are clear.
“It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn’t have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumor that was initially visible on scans,” Mulholland said.
Ben and Emily Trotman wed in 2023, after he began his immunotherapy treatment.
“We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumor at bay,” he added, “and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.”
In January 2023, months after his diagnosis, Ben married Emily. The couple welcomed a daughter, Mabel, earlier this year.
They enjoy taking her for walks along with their rescue dog, Jerry.
“We are trying to live as normal a life as possible,” Emily said.
“We are in a unique position of which there is no precedent and which comes with a great deal of uncertainty,” she continued. “We want to live each day as if it were our last, but we also want to plan for the future, which we hope to have.”
Researchers plan to recruit 16 glioblastoma patients like Ben over 18 months.
After taking ipilimumab, the trial participants will undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy and perhaps surgery depending on the extent of their disease.
Dr. Paul Mulholland and Dame Siobhain McDonagh, who raised funds for the new clinical trial of ipilimumab.
The trial is being funded by Dame Siobhain McDonagh, a member of the British Parliament, whose sister died of glioblastoma in 2023.
“My beloved sister Margaret was appalled to discover that there had been no advances in brain cancer treatment for decades when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma,” McDonagh said. “Changing this was Margaret’s final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory.”
Treatment will take place at the NIHR UCLH’s Clinical Research Facility at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
“I am delighted that this new trial, with the same immunotherapy drug I received, is going ahead and others will have the opportunity to take part,” Ben said. “It will give people newly diagnosed with glioblastoma some hope.”
