Katie Holmes Almost Played This Iconic Role in '10 Things I Hate About You'

10 Things I Hate About You is turning 20, and we're learning all kinds of new things about the iconic movie. An article in The New York Times interviewed the casting director Marcia Ross, and apparently they loved Katie Holmes so much in the female lead role of Kat Stratford that they almost cast her. But Katie chose to begin working on Dawson's Creek.

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Wait, WHAT?? 10 Things I Hate About You is turning 20, and we're learning all kinds of new things about the iconic movie. But this latest news makes me SO conflicted: An article in The New York Times interviewed the casting director Marcia Ross, and apparently they loved Katie Holmes so much in the female lead role of Kat Stratford that they almost cast her. But Katie chose to begin working on Dawson's Creek, so Julia Stiles went on to star in the role. And now I don't know how to feel.

"I loved Katie Holmes," Marcia Ross said. "She was about to get Dawson’s Creek and we had to make a decision really fast." Small world—Katie would go on to act alongside Michelle Williams, who would go on to have a relationship with 10 Things star Heath Ledger. 

ALSO, Kate Hudson was up for the role, too, apparently. "The other person I loved was Kate Hudson. But her mom [Goldie Hawn] didn’t like the script for her, so she passed," said Cross. WHAT.

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Soooo now I'm imagining all the possibilities if either of these two actresses played the role. Katie—I can't really see it, honestly. I feel like Kat required a grittiness and an anger that I don't see much in Katie's roles (and yes, Katie did play "edgy" in films like Disturbing Behavior, but I never really felt like it was the right fit for her. Yes, I'm nerdy, what of it?). Although it would have made for a killer end resolution, though. I actually feel the same way about Kate Hudson, and considering she was a big leading lady in the early 2000s, directors thought so too—most of the roles she got tapped into her America's Sweetheart vibe.  

I am SO confused. How should I feel about the news?

In the end, though, I am so so glad that Julia Stiles ended up playing Kat. She was my angsty teen spirit animal, and her tearful poem towards the end of the film gets me. Every. Single. Time.

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ICONIC.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.