Julia Stiles

Julia Stiles is an American actress known for her work in film, television, and theater. She gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with leading roles in teen films that have since become cult classics. Her career has spanned independent cinema, major studio productions, and acclaimed television series, earning her several award nominations. Stiles is also recognized for her advocacy work and her graduate studies in English literature.

Early life and education

Julia Stiles was born in New York City and raised in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Her mother, Judith, was an artist, and her father, John Stiles, was a teacher who later became a businessman. She attended PS 41 and later the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan. From a young age, she studied acting, taking classes at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theater. She balanced her early acting work with her academic studies, eventually enrolling at Columbia University, where she graduated with a degree in English literature.

Career

Stiles began her professional career with a role on the television series *Ghostwriter* and made her film debut in a minor part in *I Love You, I Love You Not*. Her breakthrough came with the lead role in the 1999 film *10 Things I Hate About You*, a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's *The Taming of the Shrew*. This success was followed by prominent roles in *Save the Last Dance*, which won her an MTV Movie Award, and *The Prince & Me*. She demonstrated her range in dramatic roles in films like David Mamet's *State and Main* and the *Bourne* film series, starring opposite Matt Damon. In television, she earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance in the Showtime series *Dexter*. She has also performed on stage, appearing in David Auburn's play *Oleanna* in London's West End and in a 2012 revival of *The Guardsman* on Broadway.

Filmography

A selected filmography includes *Wicked* (1998), *10 Things I Hate About You* (1999), *Hamlet* (2000) starring Ethan Hawke, *Save the Last Dance* (2001), *The Bourne Identity* (2002), *Mona Lisa Smile* (2003) with Julia Roberts, *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), *The Omen* (2006), *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), *Silver Linings Playbook* (2012), and *The Great Gilly Hopkins* (2015). Her television work includes recurring roles on *Dexter*, *Riviera*, and *The Lake*.

Personal life

Stiles married Preston J. Cook, a camera assistant she met on the set of *The Bourne Ultimatum*, in a private ceremony in 2017. The couple has two sons and divides their time between New York City and Portland, Maine. An avid reader and writer, she contributed a column to *The Guardian* and has been involved with various charitable organizations. She is a supporter of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and has worked with the United Nations UNICEF division.

Awards and nominations

Throughout her career, Stiles has received several accolades. She won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss for *Save the Last Dance* and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress for *10 Things I Hate About You*. Her performance in *Dexter* earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She has also been nominated for multiple Teen Choice Awards and Satellite Awards.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Actresses from New York City Category:Columbia University alumni