Julia O’Hara Stiles (born March 28, 1981) is an American stage and screen actress. After beginning her theatre career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet. Her film career has included both commercial and critical successes, ranging from teen romantic comedies such as 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) to dark house pictures such as The Business of Strangers (2001). Stiles also actively supports a variety of progressive causes