Julia Stiles Opens Up About Crying After Tough ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Criticism

Julia Stiles struggled to hold back her emotions after receiving disappointing feedback from the Dancing With the Stars judges — but she found comfort in the person beside her throughout the competition.

Following Tuesday’s live show, the Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You star revealed that she had a “big old cry fest” in her trailer after she and professional partner Ezra Sosa scored 16 out of 30 for their tango.

Speaking with E! News backstage, Stiles admitted that she was having a difficult time processing the result.

“To be completely honest, I’m not feeling great,” she said.

The actress explained that one of the hardest parts of Dancing With the Stars is knowing that strong rehearsals do not necessarily translate into a successful live performance.

“The crazy thing about this show — which I knew going into it — is that you can have great run-throughs, you can have great rehearsals, but really, all that matters is what ends up on television.”

Ezra Sosa Was There to Comfort Her

While the judges’ comments were difficult to hear, Stiles said she was grateful to have Sosa by her side.

After the performance, she returned to her trailer and broke down in tears. Sosa stayed with her and offered support as she processed the criticism.

“I do have the most fantastic partner because I had a big old cry fest in my trailer,” Stiles said. “And he was right there with me, so patiently and so sympathetically.”

Sosa was quick to return the compliment.

“She says ‘I have a fantastic partner,’ I’m gonna say the same thing. I have a great partner,” he told E! News.

He then turned to Stiles and reassured her directly: “And you were so good tonight. You were incredible.”

Their exchange offered a glimpse of the partnership behind the performances, particularly during a week when Stiles was struggling with the judges’ assessment.

A 16/30 Score After a Challenging Tango

Stiles and Sosa performed their tango to Teddy Swims’ “The Door.” Their scores of 5-6-5 from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli gave them a total of 16 points.

The routine did not receive the response Stiles had hoped for.

Tonioli began by praising her attempt to take on a different persona, saying she was channeling Sharon Stone. But he also pointed out several problems during the performance, including “a few stumbles.”

“You kind of lost the flow a little bit,” Tonioli told her.

Still, he encouraged Stiles not to become discouraged, emphasizing that trying unfamiliar things is part of learning and progressing.

Inaba had a similar reaction, focusing on Stiles’ posture and the physical tension she noticed during the dance.

“It is so amazing and it’s special, but it’s also working against you,” Inaba said, explaining that Stiles sometimes appeared too stiff when the performance called for her to “let go.”

At the same time, Inaba acknowledged the effort Stiles was making.

“I appreciate that you are going for it,” she told the actress.

Stiles Wants to Keep Learning

Despite the disappointment, Stiles said she is trying to use the criticism as part of the learning process rather than allowing it to shut her down.

She and Sosa are preparing for their third week of competition, when they will take on a yacht rock song.

“It’s all a learning process,” Stiles told E! “My goal now is really to just keep letting people in and not shut down.”

The pair were not in danger of elimination following their tango. Instead, Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis and professional partner Alan Bersten were eliminated.

For Stiles, the result means she gets another opportunity to put the judges’ feedback into practice — and to continue growing more comfortable with the demands of live ballroom dancing.

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams on Disney+.