Julia Stiles Enthusiastically Shares Her Love for Chappell Roan’s Music

Julia Stiles has a current favorite music artist that would certainly inspire Kat Stratford to dance on tables.

“I admit I may be a bit late to the party, but I can’t stop thinking about Chappell Roan,” Stiles, 43, reveals exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I know her album came out a year ago and she broke out around the same time, but I’m thrilled to finally join this fantastic party.”

Roan, 26, is quickly becoming one of music’s hottest talents, especially following her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. She scored a total of six Grammy nominations for 2025, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year, clinching the Best New Artist award this past February 2.

During the awards ceremony, Roan performed her hit “Pink Pony Club,” which happens to be one of Stiles’ favorites. “First it was ‘HOT TO GO!,’ and I learned the dance. Then it was ‘Pink Pony Club,’” she shares with Us. “It’s stuck in my head. I think she’s amazing.”

While “Pink Pony Club” fills Stiles’ music playlist, her TV often features the charming blue cartoon dog Bluey. “The show I’m watching the most lately is Bluey,” Stiles shares.

As a mother of three, she finds the character Mum (voiced by Melanie Zanetti) relatable. “The dad [David McCormack] is also fun. Dads get to be the fun ones,” she jokes, noting she shares her kids with her husband, Preston Cook.

Juggling parenting, acting, and her directorial debut with Wish You Were Here, Stiles dreams of a relaxing beach getaway. “I’m all about beaches, saltwater, and sunshine,” she explains. “I filmed a TV series for a few years in France and a bit in Italy, and that was wonderful. I’d love to return. But without a doubt, a beach in Costa Rica is my happy place.”

Every beach escape requires an excellent beach read, and Stiles has a few book recommendations. “I loved Nightbitch because it was adapted into a fantastic movie,” she tells Us. “I’m currently reading The Pro, and it’s fantastic. … All Fours is phenomenal.”

She adds, “I just finished Desperately Seeking Something, a memoir by Susan Seidelman, because her film Desperately Seeking Susan was pivotal in my childhood.”

Stiles notes that Desperately Seeking Susan also inspired her new film Wish You Were Here, especially in terms of its colors and design.

Wish You Were Here, released in theaters last month, features Isabelle Fuhrman as Charlotte, who grows closer to Mena Massoud’s Adam as they navigate his terminal illness. Julia’s sister, Jane Stiles, also stars in the film, alongside Kelsey Grammer and Jennifer Grey.

Julia credits both her acting background and motherhood for assisting in her directorial journey. “Being a mother has been excellent training for directing. You have to master time management and multitasking,” she explains. “You need to be present while also thinking several steps ahead. Handling sleep deprivation and managing people’s emotions and needs while guiding them is pivotal. It truly is the best training.”

With reporting by Travis Cronin