Once a dazzling star, renowned for her compelling performances, Julia Stiles seemed to have it all during the peak of her Hollywood fame. Her breakthrough in the teen rom-com ’10 Things I Hate About You’ launched her into stardom, and her talent continued to shine in diverse projects. However, at some point of her career, the actress appeared to have vanished from the spotlight, leaving fans wondering: Where did Julia Stiles go?
Stiles’ journey into acting began at the tender age of 11, gracing the stage with the La MaMa Theatre Company in New York. Gradually, she made her mark in the film industry, securing minor roles. After earning an MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance with ’10 Things I Hate About You’, the actress continued her career with Shakespearean adaptations like ‘Hamlet’ and ‘O.’
In 2001, ‘Save The Last Dance,’ a dance-themed drama, breathed new life into Stiles’ career. Despite her rising fame, she took a hiatus from the screen to pursue her education, enrolling at Columbia University to study English Literature in 2005. In an interview with Independent a few years ago, she reflected on her college experience, saying:
“I wanted to be in the insular bubble of college. It was totally unconscious, but I wanted to be able to do all the trial-and-error mistakes that you make as you’re growing up and finding your voice in a more insular environment than just out in the public eye.”
The actress added, elaborating further on why she decided to pursue a college education:
“I was thinking, ‘When I am a grown-up, when I’m sitting around with producers and studio executives, I want to be able to have had that experience, just to be taken seriously.'”
In the following years after college, Julia tried to make more cautious decisions in her acting career. Her next big breakthrough came in 2010 when she joined the cast of the Showtime series ‘Dexter.’ Her portrayal of Lumen Pierce earned her Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations. Following her success in ‘Dexter,’ Stiles took part in the British TV series ‘Riviera,’ which further solidified her global appeal.
In 2019, Stiles solidified her position in Hollywood by landing the role of a journalist in the critically acclaimed film ‘Hustlers,’ led by Jennifer Lopez. And in 2022, she marked her comeback to the horror genre with ‘Orphan: First Kill.’ Julia is currently starring in the ongoing Amazon series, ‘The Lake.’ In the midst of a career, Julia also embarked on a journey of motherhood, welcoming two children with her husband, Preston J. Cook.