More than 23 years ago, on March 31, 1999, the romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You premiered in theaters, becoming a massive global success. At the time, a $54 million box office gross was an impressive achievement for a film of this genre. The movie, which marked Heath Ledger's first Hollywood production, opened many doors not only for him but also for his co-star, Julia Stiles. The same can be said for the screenwriters Karen McCullah and Kristen Smith, who went on to create memorable stories like Legally Blonde and The House Bunny. To celebrate the anniversary of this modern, loose adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, let’s revisit the early days of Heath Ledger's career.
By the time 10 Things I Hate About You came along, Heath Ledger was already gaining recognition in his native Australia, but his role as Patrick Verona served as his Hollywood debut. Even so, director Gil Junger initially had reservations about casting the young actor.
“We were concerned about Heath’s Australian accent, but then I thought, ‘Why not? It’ll just make him more intriguing, mysterious, and sexy,’”
Junger revealed.
Ledger turned out to be the perfect choice for the role, which was based on the character Petruchio from The Taming of the Shrew. The actor admitted to drawing inspiration from some of the greats, including Richard Burton and Jack Nicholson. Fittingly, both Nicholson and Ledger would later portray one of the most iconic comic book villains of all time—the Joker.
“I borrowed from Richard Burton’s performance in The Taming of the Shrew, but Patrick also drew heavily from Jack Nicholson, especially in his smile and his mischievousness,”
Ledger shared in an interview at the time.
Interestingly, filming began without Ledger, and the crew worried about how his arrival might affect the group dynamic.
“For a few days, we were apprehensive, but when he arrived, it felt like the production found its soulmate. With Ledger on board, the team became even stronger. At the time, we didn’t fully realize how rare this was: perfect chemistry without a single weak link. We all agreed it was the best summer of our lives,”
the director admitted.
Not only was the experience unforgettable for the cast and crew, but audiences loved the movie too. For many, Ledger and Stiles’ on-screen pairing remains a cherished memory, and it’s easy to see why 10 Things I Hate About You continues to hold a special place in people’s hearts.
