Julia Stiles revived her best-known dance role during Dancing with the Stars’ “Super Bowl Night”, performing alongside professional partner Ezra Sosa as her Save the Last Dance co-star Sean Patrick Thomas watched from the audience.
The 45-year-old actress and Sosa performed a hip-hop-inspired jazz routine to Jennifer Lopez’s Jenny From the Block on Tuesday night’s episode.
Stiles incorporated movements from the 2001 film, in which she played aspiring dancer Sara Johnson. Thomas, who played her on-screen love interest Derek, was present for the performance, echoing the memorable set-up of the film’s final dance audition.
In a rehearsal package, Stiles said: “This is my chance for the do-over that I’ve always wanted, so I just have to go out there and own it, I have no other choice.”
The routine earned praise from the judging panel. Bruno Tonioli called it her best dance so far, while Derek Hough embraced her after the performance.
Carrie Ann Inaba joked: “I know this is the wrong movie, but I think we just got served,” before describing it as “so wonderful” to see Stiles perform with greater confidence.
Stiles and Sosa received a combined score of 33 out of 40 from the judges, with Monday Night Football commentator Joe Buck serving as a special fourth guest judge.
Thomas also praised Stiles in a video shared by the official Dancing with the Stars Instagram account.
“I am just over the moon to be here to watch Julia do her thing tonight on Dancing with the Stars,” he said. “We had a great time doing Save the Last Dance back in the day, and she brought it all the way back here tonight.”
