Kate Hudson was supposed to star in popular teen romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, but she did not accept the offer, film's casting director Marcia Ross has revealed. Ross said Hudson turned down the film because her mother, veteran actor Goldie Hawn, did not like the script. The lead roles in the film were eventually played by Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger.

"We screen-tested Josh Hartnett, Eliza Dushku, Heath and Julia, but Julia and Heath just had the best chemistry together. I loved Katie Holmes. She was about to get 'Dawson's Creek' and we had to make a decision really fast.