On Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, the famous actor and director Julia Stiles came to Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School to speak with students about various aspects of life. Best known for her roles in the films “Things I Hate About You” and “Save the Last Dance,” Stiles came to give advice on acting as well as insight to her own life and career in a question and answer-styled discussion. This experience was set up by Mrs. Lozada and Mr. Holden, a friend of Julia Stiles’ father who he attended McClancy with. If you couldn’t make it to actually meet her, here are some of the highlights of the conversation:
As everything does at McClancy, the meeting started with a communal prayer of the Our Father, welcoming God’s presence and expressing thanksgiving for this learning opportunity.
The cast of “Aladdin Jr.” then performed a scene from the ongoing play that expressed Jasmin’s desire to be free from her castle and her father’s overbearing rules, while her friends attempted to encourage her. After the excerpt, Stiles made sure to praise the young actors for their bravery and skill in the performance. After some repetition of the scene, she noted how practice in front of large audiences helps one become more comfortable and confident in the scene and the character involved. Stiles also noted the importance of projecting in a performance, and acknowledging the audience and their personal surroundings. For example, she praised the actors for the acknowledgement of a bird chirping outside as it took the audience’s surroundings and incorporated them into the scene, further immersing the audience into the story being told.
Stiles expressed her gratitude to be a “working actress” and have the ability to tell stories for people’s entertainment while making a living, expressing that it is a “dream come true.” On the other hand, she also noted the importance of her new endeavor in directing and how this was a “career-long goal” for her to be in the “driver’s seat” and have this kind of control over a project, giving her a feeling of pride when looking back on its creation. She also went on to note the importance of the entire cast, both on and off screen in creating the movie “Wish You Were Here.” There have been some debates on whether it is age appropriate for highschoolers, and Stiles urged anyone who was interested in viewing the movie to get parental permission.
At a student’s request, she went on to recount her career and its beginning with a theatre company when she was only twelve years old. During this time, Stiles discovered her love for telling stories that invoke some kind of emotion from audiences. She compared the idea to a campfire and the sense of community that is created by the collective experience shared at one. In addition, Stiles went on to give advice to teenagers today to be aware of how phones can distract from true human experience and prevent them from being kind to others and themselves. She emphasized the importance of being present in the world and paying attention to life so one can truly enjoy it.
Stiles explained the intensive work that acting is, as it is both time and emotionally consuming Moreover, she warned young actors about allowing their work to take over their lives. Rather, she said that the best actors are those who have truly lived and can draw from personal experience and human emotion. She praised Matt Damon, who she had worked with on the Jason Bourne movies for constant hard work and earned success, giving an example of the work required of actors. She went on to explain her own struggles with balancing work and life, especially as a mother. However, she takes comfort in the fact that everyone faces these issues and it is possible to find a balance.
Finally, Julia Stiles gave advice for young actors on how to overcome stage fright. As she has worked both on stage and on screen, Stiles understands the struggle and stated how she continues to experience anxiety before certain roles, especially on stage. She placed emphasis on connecting with the audience as a way to feel less alone on stage and express that you are really interacting with them. She also said that before a show, she likes to take in the empty room and focus on her breathing exercises in order to give herself a clear mind and voice during the performance.
All those here at Monsignor McClancy would like to thank Julia Stiles for her time and the insight she was able to provide for all students, especially those who are looking to pursue a career in acting. Overall, this was a wonderful experience for all the students involved!
