Executive Overview
The ballroom of Dancing With the Stars is rarely kind to the uninitiated, even for those whose cinematic resumes suggest a natural affinity for rhythmic movement. When actress Julia Stiles stepped onto the iconic floor during the second night of the Season 35 premiere, she brought with her a legacy defined by her unforgettable turn as a hip-hop-loving ballerina in the 2001 romantic drama Save the Last Dance. Yet, despite decades of public scrutiny and an established artistic pedigree, the 45-year-old star found herself grappling with an overwhelming physical and psychological phenomenon: a literal out-of-body experience.
Partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa, Stiles performed a vibrant quickstep to Dolly Parton’s classic anthem "9 to 5." While the routine earned them a respectable 18 out of 30 points and secured their safety in a competitive week marred by a double elimination, the journey to the dance floor was far from effortless. Months of anticipation culminated in weeks of insomnia, fueled by a relentless inner monologue and an unforgettable piece of past criticism from Bravo host Andy Cohen. As Stiles and Sosa set their sights on the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, their debut performance has quickly become one of the most talked-about narrative arcs of the season, blending Hollywood nostalgia, high-stakes athleticism, and personal redemption.
Detailed Chronology: From Sleepless Nights to the Ballroom Floor
The path to the Dancing With the Stars premiere is paved with intensive rehearsals, psychological preparation, and, in Stiles’ case, a notable lack of rest. Speaking exclusively to E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi immediately following the live broadcast on September 16, Stiles offered an unfiltered glimpse into the disorienting reality of competing on live television.
"Honestly, it was a little bit of an out-of-body experience," Stiles admitted to Marfuggi, standing alongside Sosa backstage. "So, I’m just like, ‘What happened?’ And you spend so much time trying to be present, present, present. So now I’m here. I don’t really remember what happened."
When pressed on whether she felt a sense of relief once the music stopped and the applause faded, the actress rejected the premise entirely. "No, because relieved means that I was anticipating something bad happening," she explained. "I was trying to push those thoughts out of my head."
Those intrusive thoughts, however, had occupied real estate in her mind for weeks leading up to the premiere. Stiles revealed that the anxiety surrounding her live debut cost her sleep on multiple nights. "I’ve been thinking [about it] for weeks," she shared, describing the surreal nocturnal loops where sleep blurred into choreography. "Barely sleeping at night because you’re like, ‘Am I asleep? I’m still thinking about this dance.’"
Despite the psychological toll, the anxiety dissipated the moment the performance began. As the cameras rolled, Stiles executed a strategic shift in her focus, abandoning the external pressures of the live audience and millions of viewers at home. Reflecting on the moment she locked eyes with her partner, she told Sosa, "By the time we got to today, I was just looking at you."
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Weight of Legacy and the Competition Field
Stiles’ participation in Season 35 carries a unique layer of meta-narrative. For an entire generation of filmgoers, she remains inextricably linked to Save the Last Dance, a film that required her to bridge the gap between classical ballet and street-level hip-hop. Stepping into the ballroom brought those cinematic expectations rushing back, but the technical demands of ballroom dance proved to be a vastly different beast.
Despite the steep learning curve, Stiles and Sosa managed to pull off an 18 out of 30 on opening night. More importantly, their score and fan support insulated them from the catastrophic double elimination that plagued the season’s inaugural week—claiming Sarah Jane Nader among the early casualties.
The Season 35 roster is notably stacked with high-caliber talent, former teen idols, athletes, and reality television personalities, setting the stage for a fiercely contested race to the finale:
- Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa: Bringing Hollywood pedigree and fierce determination.
- Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten: The celebrity chef trading culinary heat for the cha-cha.
- Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson: The Glee alum bringing his extensive musical theater and dance background to the ballroom.
- Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart: The ’90s pop icon attempting to chart a new path to the top of the leaderboard.
- Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star showcasing her fresh rhythm.
- Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy: The Step Up star returning to her roots twenty years after her breakout dance film.
- Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov: The 2026 Olympic figure skater transitioning her ice-bound grace to hardwood floors.
- Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach: The Team USA Paralympic track and field star proving elite athleticism translates across disciplines.
- Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills: Keeping the Nader family legacy alive following sister Brooks Nader’s Season 33 run.
- Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold: The comedian (known online as Fibula) translating social media charisma into audience votes.
- Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star following in the footsteps of his wife, Whitney Leavitt.
- Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess: The Bachelor Nation favorite trading roses for the rumba.
- Jackson Olson & Emma Slater: The Savannah Bananas baseball player bringing diamond-level showmanship to the dance floor.
- Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson: The Jimmy Kimmel Live! fixture ready to conquer unfamiliar choreography.
- Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong: The Summer House star banking on gym stamina to survive the physical rigors of the competition.
- Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas: The Love Island UK alum who manifested her spot on the show using a meticulously crafted vision board.
Official Statements and the Andy Cohen Factor
Beyond the physical challenges and the competition lineup, Stiles is fueled by a very specific, highly entertaining source of motivation: past public shade.
During her premiere-night appearances, the 10 Things I Hate About You star confessed that a blunt remark made by Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen—who previously quipped that she was "not the greatest dancer on the planet"—remains permanently "imprinted in my brain." Rather than shying away from the critique, Stiles has weaponized it as fuel for her championship campaign.
"We’re gonna win the Mirrorball," Stiles vowed to Sosa, outlining her ultimate revenge fantasy, "sit on Andy’s couch and be like, ‘Hey.’"
The sentiment did not go unnoticed by the Dancing With the Stars judging panel. Derek Hough, reacting to Stiles and Sosa’s spirited quickstep, leaned directly into the narrative during his critique, delivering a message straight to camera: "Andy Cohen, you can eat it!"
The validation from Hough, combined with surviving the brutal first-week eliminations, has validated Stiles’ grueling preparation. While she may have felt like she was having an out-of-body experience during her premiere, her head is now firmly in the game.
Future Outlook: The Road Ahead for Season 35
As the dust settles on a chaotic opening week, the competition for the Season 35 Mirrorball Trophy enters a critical phase. For Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa, the immediate objective is refining their technique and building the stamina required to sustain a multi-week tournament.
The psychological hurdle of the first live dance has been cleared, and Stiles has proven she can deliver under immense pressure despite her initial sleepless nights. However, with a roster featuring professional dancers-turned-competitors like Jenna Dewan, seasoned performers like Harry Shum Jr., and hungry athletes eager to make their mark, the margin for error narrows with every passing week.
Will Stiles complete her redemption arc, silence Andy Cohen’s past skepticism once and for all, and claim the ultimate ballroom prize? If her premiere-night resilience and unwavering partnership with Ezra Sosa are any indication, the Save the Last Dance star is only just getting started.