Julia Stiles discovered that the Dancing With the Stars ballroom can deliver an emotional punch along with the fancy footwork.
The 45-year-old actress faced a difficult second week in the competition after performing a tango with professional partner Ezra Sosa during Viral Hits Night. The pair danced to Teddy Swims’ “The Door,” hoping to build momentum after Stiles’ first appearance in the ballroom.
Instead, the judges found room for improvement.
Stiles and Sosa earned 16 points out of a possible 30, with the judges pointing to mistakes and moments when the actress appeared too rigid. It was a tough result for Stiles, who had put considerable effort into rehearsing the routine.
Once she was away from the cameras, the disappointment caught up with her.
Stiles acknowledged afterward that she became emotional in her trailer following the performance and the judges’ critiques. Fortunately, she did not have to process the disappointment alone. Sosa stayed with his celebrity partner and helped her work through the difficult moment.
The professional dancer said Stiles’ perfectionist streak can make setbacks particularly frustrating for her. His message, however, was focused on what comes next. Mistakes are part of the competition, and recovering from them matters more than avoiding them altogether.
That attitude appears to be carrying Stiles into another week.
Although the tango did not produce the scores she wanted, Stiles and Sosa survived the elimination and will have another opportunity to prove themselves on the dance floor. Giada De Laurentiis and her professional partner Alan Bersten were the pair sent home.
Stiles is also keeping the experience in perspective. Despite the frustration of Week 2, she remains enthusiastic about competing and has spoken about her growing appreciation for the skill and work required of professional dancers.
For an actress accustomed to performing from a script, the ballroom presents a very different challenge. There are rehearsals and preparation, but ultimately everything comes down to a live performance in front of judges, an audience and television viewers.
Stiles now appears determined to embrace that unpredictability rather than retreat from it.
The tears may have marked a difficult night, but they did not mark the end of her run. With another week ahead, Stiles has a chance to turn disappointment into exactly what Sosa encouraged her to pursue: a comeback.
