Julia Stiles is opening up about the ups and downs of being on "Dancing with the Stars."
The actress, 45, went into Week 2 of the ABC competition series
with the judges' critiques top of mind as she and pro partner Ezra Sosa prepared for their Tango to Teddy Swims' “The Door” for Viral Hits night. But after what judge Bruno Tonioli noted were "a few stumbles" and earning a score of 16 out of 30, Stiles was admittedly discouraged."My first week jitters were gone, [but I'm] not feeling great, to be honest," she told USA TODAY after the Tuesday, Sept. 23 show. "But that's, I guess, part of the process. We've got to just keep fighting and keep trying and learning."
She also praised Sosa, 25, for being “the best partner” and supporting her through
an emotional night.
“I literally just had a big old cry-fest in my trailer, and he was sitting there with me patiently and sympathetically,” Stiles shared. “It's wonderful.”
Acknowledging the “10 Things I Hate About You” star "is a perfectionist,” Sosa said, “When things don't go her way, it's obviously a very tough blow for the both of us."
"The advice I gave her is, especially when it comes to the show, it's not a matter of whether you get hit or not, because that's inevitable. Those mess ups are gonna happen,” he explained. “It's mostly about how you're gonna bounce back from it."
"If there's one thing about her, she's an Aries. And if I know an Aries woman, it’s that they're gonna have the comeback of the century," he added. "So I'm very much looking forward to hopping in the studio tomorrow and looking forward to next week too."
Despite her disappointment, Stiles, who has long been a fan of “DWTS,” said her experience on the show so far has been “incredible.”
“I have so much awe and respect for these dancers and what they do. The ballroom is beautiful,” she said. “It's all it's wonderful.”
"Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and can be streamed the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Julia Stiles admits she had a 'big old cry-fest' after 'Dancing with the Stars' stumbles
