‘10 Things I Hate About You’ is perhaps the classic romantic comedy film that put the late actor Heath Ledger on the map. The star ended up getting known for his ‘boy next door’ look and persona following the release of this film, and even helped him skyrocket to fame. Years later, even after his passing, the film is labeled ahead of its time, while the actor is still known as one of the most talented ones in the past few decades. Here is a look back on how Ledger landed the role in the first place, and how a simple favour to a director ended up changing his life.
How Heath Ledger beat out more than 200 people for ‘10 Things I Hate About You’
In an old interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director of the film, Gil Junger, opened up about how Ledger was able to crack his role. He commented on the casting at the time, citing that Heath was “magic” and that he managed to beat out 253 other people who had already given their best shot at the role.He shared at the time that he and five casting agents were taking the auditions for the film, and had already interviewed 253 men for the lead role. He shared that he was the last-minute addition to the roster, and that one of the people who was attending the auditions with him, “Marcia Ross, the head of Disney casting, said, ‘Look, this next kid, I don’t know him. ‘It’s a favor for an agent I respect. So if he’s no good, just stop it and send him on his way.’”He was very picky as a director, and did not have much hope for Ledger, though it all changed when he walked into the room. “And this is the God’s honest truth, on my parents’ life: He took three steps into the room, and my thought was, ‘If this f—er can read English, I’m going to cast him,’” he shared.Junger also recalled that Heath had some “magnetism” to him and that he was immediately drawn to him. During the interview at the time he also added that, “He just was so confident and loving and wanted to be the best he could be. He was just an incredible young man.”
Heath Ledger was the final choice for the film
The director had talked about the same with Barry Katz last year, for his channel, where he had opened up just how great Heath was. “He was hired before he got to his car”, he commented at the time. He also revealed that after the interview, the moment the then 17-year-old left the room, Junger had told everyone in the room that he wanted him in the film.Heath Ledger passed away in January 2008 at the age of 28 due to an accidental overdose.
