Entertainment

Julia Stiles joins ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 cast

By Alejandra García • August 21, 2026
Julia Stiles joins ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 cast

Julia Stiles is headed to the ballroom for “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35, Page Six can confirm.

The “Save the Last Dance” actress will compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy this fall when the forthcoming season premieres Sept. 15 on ABC and Disney+.

Stiles played Sara, a young woman chasing her dream to attend Juilliard while navigating an interracial relationship with Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas) on the South Side of Chicago, in the 2001 dance film.

Julia Stiles, pictured here on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” is joining “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35, Page Six confirmed. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Stiles is best known for her role in 2001’s “Save the Last Dance,” a scene from which is pictured above. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

The actress also famously starred in 1999’s “10 Things I Hate About You,” a cult classic rom-com featuring the late Heath Ledger.

Stiles was on fire in the aughts, starring in films like “O” (2001), “Mona Lisa Smile” (2003) and “The Prince & Me” (2004) “The Omen” (2006). She also starred in four films from the “Bourne” franchise alongside Matt Damon and played Jennifer Lawrence’s sister in 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook.”

The mother of three previously opened up about her love for “Dancing With the Stars,” calling it her version of “Monday Night Football” in an interview with People published in February 2025.

Stiles starred in the dance film alongside Sean Patrick Thomas. The co-stars are pictured above in the movie. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
The actress also delighted audiences in 1999’s “10 Things I Hate About You” opposite the late Heath Ledger. ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

“I’ll go down YouTube rabbit holes of watching old videos, and I have my favorite choreographers,” she revealed. “We’ve talked about me doing it, but I live in New York City, so it would be hard. Maybe they could do an East Coast version.”

Page Six has reached out to ABC for comment on Stiles’ casting, but the network does not comment on casting rumors.

The full “DWTS” Season 35 cast — both celebrities and professionals — will be announced Sept. 2 on “Good Morning America.”

Stiles, seen here in January 2025, previously called “DWTS” her “Monday Night Football” in a previous interview with People. GC Images
Stiles, pictured above on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” also revealed that there had been talks of her joining the show, with her pointing to her living in New York City as something that would make it “hard.” Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Previously confirmed castings for the new season include “Summer House” favorite Ciara Miller and “Love Island” alum Maura Higgins.

On the last season of “Summer House,” audiences had Miller’s back after her ex West Wilson began dating her best friend Amanda Batula in a bombshell secret romance.

Higgins, meanwhile, came runner-up to fellow “Love Island” alum Rob Rausch on the latest season of “The Traitors.” He got her a Birkin to make up for him betraying her.

“Love Island” and “The Traitors” alum Maura Higgins, pictured above in August, was previously announced as a Season 35 contestant. Melanie Miller / BACKGRID
“Summer House” star Ciara Miller, seen here in August, is also a confirmed contestant. GuessWhoISaw / BACKGRID

ABC also confirmed that Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, will compete on the reality competition series.

As always, there are plenty of rumors flying around about who else will be cutting a rug this season.

TMZ reported Thursday that Sarah Jane Nader will follow in sister Brooks Nader’s footsteps and is joining the show.

Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, will also hit the ballroom on the upcoming season, ABC previously announced. Melanie Miller / BACKGRID
Among the rumored additions to the cast are Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan and Sarah Jane Nader — the latter pictured here in August. Melanie Miller / BACKGRID

Brooks, who is set to star in the upcoming “Baywatch” reboot, competed on Season 33 in 2024 alongside pro partner Gleb Savchenko, whom she also briefly dated.

The outlet also reported Thursday that “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum Tatyana Ali is lacing up her dancing shoes.

Alfonso Ribeiro, who also starred on the Will Smith-led ’90s sitcom, famously won Season 19 with pro partner Witney Carson and now co-hosts the show with Julianne Hough.

Last year, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, pictured above on the show, won “Dancing With the Stars” Season 34. Disney via Getty Images
The full “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 cast will be announced Sept. 2 on “Good Morning America.” Last year’s champs and co-host Alfonso Ribeiro are pictured here. Disney via Getty Images

Us Weekly reported Wednesday that “Bachelorette” alum Tyler Cameron and actress Jenna Dewan, who starred in 2006’s “Step Up” alongside now ex-husband Channing Tatum, are set to compete.

What we do know about “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35, though, is that judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli are returning as the esteemed panel of judges.

“DWTS,” which premiered in 2005, has seen somewhat of a surge in popularity in recent seasons — especially with last year’s Season 34 which saw Robert Irwin, son of late “Crocodile Hunter” star Steve Irwin, take home the title.


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