Actress says a stand-in handled much of the film’s complex dance sequences, despite her previously discussing months of intensive training for the role
LOS ANGELES: Julia Stiles has revealed that she relied on a dance double for much of her performance in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, adding a new twist to the long-running story surrounding her preparation for the movie.
The 45-year-old actress made the revelation in a recent TikTok video with her Dancing with the Stars season 35 partner, Ezra Sosa.
Julia Stiles clarifies Juilliard misconception
Taking part in a social media trend, Stiles first addressed a persistent misconception that she attended Juilliard.
The confusion appears to have originated from her role as Sara Johnson, an aspiring ballerina who moves to Chicago in the popular dance drama.
Stiles and Sosa clarified that she “only danced for a role”, with a stand-in handling most of the film’s more complex dance sequences.
The actress also joked that she and Sosa are “ready to SLAY ON DWTS” as they prepare to compete on the dance competition programme.
Stiles previously described intensive dance training
The admission is notable because Stiles has previously described extensive preparation for Save the Last Dance.
During a 2021 appearance on Today, as well as in earlier interviews, she said she spent months training for the role because she did not want filmmakers to use a dance double.
“The dilemma for me was I had to constantly prove myself as a dancer, because I didn’t want them to double me,” Stiles previously said.
She has also recalled training between four and six hours a day before filming, saying the demanding preparation left her feet blistered and calloused.
Dance double was previously acknowledged for pointe scenes
Stiles had previously acknowledged that a double was used for scenes involving pointe ballet, which required a level of specialised training she did not have.
Her latest TikTok comments, however, appear to suggest that a double was used more extensively than she had previously indicated.
Stiles did not explain the apparent discrepancy or specify which scenes were performed by her and which involved a stand-in.
Save the Last Dance remains a notable early role
The revelation adds a fresh detail to the behind-the-scenes story of Save the Last Dance, which became one of Stiles’ best-known early films and helped establish her as a prominent young actress in the early 2000s.
Her comments also highlight the demanding preparation that went into portraying Sara Johnson, while raising questions about the extent to which Stiles performed the film’s dance sequences herself.