There are a lot of actresses who were popular in the 90's that we just don't see much of anymore. It happens! Careers taper off, people move on and into new careers, the jobs stop coming in. It always sucks a bit when you're watching an older movie you used to love and realize you haven't seen the lead in anything in a while. But sometimes, careers that start in one genre of film go in a completely different trajectory, and you end up being surprised that the actress you're vibing on in a newer movie is the same one you loved back when teenage romcoms were your jam. For us, Julia Stiles is one of those actresses. We loved her in movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, The Prince and Me, and of course, Save the Last Dance. But Julia has shown some pretty incredible range, and her refusal to sit back and wait for the right project to come her way means that she's showing up on some unexpected screens. We're big fans of Julia Stiles for so many reasons.
Julia Stiles has been acting since she was 12.
If you're like us, you probably remember her most as Kat Stratford from the ABSOLUTELY brilliant teen romcom 10 Things I Hate About You. That is and will always be one of our favorite movies of all time, and it sort of catapulted Julia into super-stardom. She followed that up with the iconic Save the Last Dance (another fav of ours), which cemented her spot at the top of leading lady list of the late 90's and early naughts. But Julia was and is about more than just the corny romcom. She's appeared in several dramatic and action movies, like the Bourne trilogy. Julia has even appeared on several hit TV shows, like Dexter and The Mindy Project.
In between all these hit movies, Julia Stiles took some time off to have a baby.
Julia and her husband Preston J. Cook welcomed a son. As moms, we know that it's not an easy transition, right? And it's so much harder when the judgy moms are out in full force, waiting to pick apart your every move. Julia found herself on the receiving end of this momshaming when she posted a rather adorable picture of herself baby-wearing her newborn. But rather than stay quiet about the mean comments and commentary she got on everything from her abilities as a mother to the safety of her precious son, Julia did what we wish all moms would do: she clapped back. In a follow-up post, Julia said, "What was supposed to be a shout out of products I like, suddenly becomes an invitation to comment on my baby, and my ability as a mother. That's the internet for you, the carnivorous plant from "Little Shop of Horrors". I was trying to keep much of my son's image private, including, I guess, his little feet. And it was just a photo taken at home, not how I normally carry him around. Thanks for the concern, anyway." People really do have too much time on their hands!
In 2019, Julia Stiles came back ... in a BIG way.
After she took a step back from Hollywood, Julia Stiles decided to be more selective with the projects she took on. And she pursued a role in a film that was outside of her comfort zone and what she was known for. She took a risk, and it paid off. Julia appeared in the hit movie Hustlers, based on the true story of a group of strippers in New York who started a crime ring to scam their customers out of more money. When she heard a project was in the works, she asked her agent to get a copy of the script and decided she would be a part of the film in any capacity (Julia ended up playing the reporter covering the story). The film was a critical and box-office smash, and put Julia right back on top.
A decades-long career means Julia Stiles' net worth is nothing to sneeze at!
Julia has been acting for over three decades, on television, stage, and in films. She's been nominated for a Golden Globe, and has been nominated an additional 17 times for other acting awards (she's won 14). With over 50 credits to her name as an actress (and a few more as a producer or director), Julia has amassed a net worth of approximately $12 million. That means she can continue to be choosy with her projects, and only do what really calls to her.