10 Things I Hate About You

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caitlin f cult classic, one of my favourite 90's movies. I don't know if it just has personal sentiment to me, but it is genuinely one of my favourite movies of all time. Overall, the plot is great, I enjoy the characters and the humor within it, as well as the more angsty parts. Thoroughly enjoyed. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/04/25 Full Review Naz B Bold, Playful, Vulnerable: What 10 Things I Hate About You Can Teach Teen Actors There are some movie moments that just stay with you. For me, two unforgettable ones come from the late-90s classic 10 Things I Hate About You. On one side, you have Heath Ledger strutting across the high school bleachers, singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” with the marching band backing him up. He’s bold, playful, even a little mischievous, taking up the whole screen with his charisma. On the other side, there’s Julia Stiles standing in front of her English class, reading her poem. No tricks, no flourishes, just raw, emotional honesty that leaves you holding your breath. These two moments show us the full spectrum of acting: knowing when to go big and when to pull back. Together, they’re a masterclass for young actors who want to understand what it really takes to make an audience remember you. The Magic of Going Big Let’s start with Heath Ledger’s scene. If you’ve ever watched it, you know it’s impossible to forget. He doesn’t just sing, he commits. He dances on the bleachers, he makes eye contact, he jokes around with the security guard chasing him. It’s playful, risky and totally over the top. But here’s the key: it works because he believes in it. He doesn’t hold back or act embarrassed about how silly it might look. Instead, he leans all the way in. That’s what makes it bold. For teen actors, this is a huge lesson. Sometimes a scene requires you to stretch beyond your comfort zone, maybe to sing, dance, yell, or act foolish. If you pull back out of fear of looking “cringe,” the audience feels that hesitation. But if you go all in, with confidence and energy, the scene lights up. Big, playful choices aren’t just about being loud or dramatic. They’re about being willing to take risks. To say, “I’m here, I’m fully in this moment, and I’m not afraid to be seen.” That’s what Heath gave us. The Power of Pulling In Now think about Julia Stiles in her poem scene. She stands in front of her classmates with tears in her eyes, reading words that feel like they’re cutting straight out of her heart. No big gestures, no tricks to win over the audience. Just vulnerability. This kind of acting is harder than it looks. It requires you to trust that your truth is enough, that you don’t need to “add on” or perform for attention. You just have to let the emotions flow, honestly and simply. For young actors, especially teens, this can be uncomfortable. It means letting yourself be seen when you feel fragile. It means not hiding behind a smile, a joke, or a bigger-than-life performance. But when you do it, the audience leans in. They feel what you feel. Julia’s scene reminds us that some of the most unforgettable moments in film come from quiet honesty. The Real Acting Lesson: Balance So what do these two scenes together teach us? That unforgettable performances happen when brave choices meet emotional truth. Acting isn’t about always being big or always being subtle. It’s about knowing when the moment calls for one or the other and having the courage to deliver it. Heath Ledger showed us that going bold can light up a screen. Julia Stiles showed us that pulling inward can break hearts. Both are essential. If you’re a teen actor, think of it like learning two instruments. Sometimes you’re the trumpet, loud, bright, impossible to ignore. Other times, you’re the violin, soft, tender, pulling everyone’s attention without needing to raise your volume. The real craft is in learning when and how to play each. How Teen Actors Can Practice Both Here are a few ways to build both sides of your acting toolkit: 1. Practice going big. Take a simple scene and exaggerate it. Speak louder than you’re comfortable with, use your whole body, make a bold physical choice. It might feel silly, but you’ll learn what it feels like to commit without holding back. 2. Practice honesty. Find a monologue that feels personal or close to your own experiences. Don’t act it, just say it, quietly, like you’re sharing it with your best friend. Focus on truth, not performance. 3. Film yourself. Watch both versions back. Notice what feels alive, and what feels forced. Sometimes what feels “too much” in the moment actually looks perfect on screen and sometimes the quietest delivery carries the most power. 4. Stretch your comfort zone. If you’re shy, push yourself to be bigger. If you’re naturally bold, challenge yourself to go small. Growth comes from practicing the side that doesn’t come easily. Final Thoughts Heath Ledger’s playful bleacher serenade and Julia Stiles’s vulnerable classroom poem couldn’t be more different and yet both remain iconic decades later. Why? Because they remind us that acting is about courage. Courage to risk being silly, and courage to risk being raw. For teen actors, this is the heart of the craft. Learn to play at both ends of the spectrum, and you’ll find yourself delivering performances that stick with people long after the credits roll. So next time you step into a scene, ask yourself: is this my Heath moment, or my Julia moment? Then go for it, all in, no holding back. That’s how unforgettable acting happens. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Conrad C Heath Ledger is a good reason to watch this movie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/22/25 Full Review Leonard S the best teen romance Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/14/25 Full Review Anonymous 2 Absolutely love this movie. The script is great, love the plot and storyline. Defiantly appeals to the teenage audience it was targeting. It defiantly displays life as a teenager in that time. Defiantly recommend! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Andrew M DO NOT WATCH. It's crude and has a very stupid story line. Very stereotypical and a very overall ugly movie. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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