Julia Stiles remembers Heath Ledger ahead of 17th death anniversary

Julia Stiles has fond memories of co-star Heath Ledger to share ahead of his 17th death anniversary.

Stiles and Heath co-starred in the 1999 rom com 10 Things I Hate About You.

During her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the actress said: “He was such a force. He walked into a room and just lit it up and had so much energy and passion, and it's really sad that he's gone.”

Ledger, known widely for his portrayal of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, was found dead in 2008 after consuming a fatal mix of prescription drugs.

On the 25th anniversary of the beloved film, director Gil Junger told People: "This guy was an old soul if you've ever met one.”

He recalled that they’d “already read over 200 guys" for the role of the male lead Patrick Verona, while casting had "probably read close to 2,000."

"[Heath] walked in the room in one of these big casting sessions ... I swear on my parents' life, I thought, 'If this f---er can speak English, I'm going to cast him,' " he shared. "He just had an energy that was undeniable."

"I liked Heath so much as a person that I would literally ride to and back from work with him just to spend more time with him," he added.

Meanwhile, Julia Stiles is making her directorial debut with Wish You Were Here. The romantic movie will bow in select theaters on January 17, 2025.