Lead Cast and Character Breakdown
The 1999 film Ten Things I Hate About You features a core ensemble led by Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford and Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona. The cast also includes Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron Frye, and Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford, with Larry Miller as her father Walter Stratford. The movie adapts Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew into a modern Seattle high school setting, and its cast launched several actors into leading roles in subsequent Hollywood productions, as noted by industry sources like Forbes.
Each principal character drives a distinct plotline tied to dating rules, sibling dynamics, and teenage rebellion. Kat is the sharp-tongued older sister whose reluctance to date sets the central premise, while Bianca is the popular younger sister whose suitors must first find a date for Kat. Patrick is the mysterious new transfer student hired to date Kat, Cameron is the earnest best friend who helps Patrick, and Walter enforces a strict dating policy that shapes the entire story.
Supporting Cast and Key Performers
David Krumholtz plays Cameron's loyal friend Joey, and Andrew Keegan portrays the arrogant Joey's friend Joey, while Andrew Keegan stars as the cocky Joey, the popular boy who wants to date Bianca. The film also features Larry Miller as Walter Stratford, Andrew Lawrence as young Cameron, and Andrew Keegan as Joey, with Larry Miller anchoring the parental authority figure who enforces the dating ban.
Other notable supporting roles include Andrew Lawrence as young Cameron, David Krumholtz as Joey, and Andrew Keegan as Joey, with Andrew Lawrence and David Krumholtz rounding out the core group of friends. The supporting cast adds layers to the high school social hierarchy, from the strict principal to the scheming classmates who help or hinder Patrick's plan to win Kat's attention.
Where the Cast Is Now
Julia Stiles has continued acting in films and television, including roles in Homeland and the Save Me series, while Heath Ledger became one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation before his death in 2008, as reported by Biography.com. Joseph Gordon-Levitt built a career in both independent and studio films, and Larisa Oleynik has remained active in television and voice work.
Several cast members have pursued directing, producing, or other creative roles behind the camera, and the film's influence is often discussed in retrospectives and anniversary features, with sources like Screen Daily covering its legacy. The movie remains a reference point for teen rom-com casting and continues to introduce new viewers to the actors' later work in film and television.