Vanessa Carlton Reveals That She and Fellow '00s Icon Julia Stiles Met 30 Years Ago in ‘9th Grade Biology’ (Exclusive)

It was an ordinary day when Vanessa Carlton met Julia Stiles.

While speaking with PEOPLE at a screening of Stiles’ directorial debut, Wish You Were Herein New York on Jan. 15, the “Ordinary Day” singer shared that she actually met Stiles three decades ago.

“I’ve known Julia since ninth grade biology class, so we’re just living our lives, man, just looking for the next exciting thing to do,” Carlton, 44, tells PEOPLE of her longtime friendship with Stiles, 43, that began when they were teenagers.

The 10 things I hate about you actress hit up the “A Thousand Miles” singer for the hit i wish you were here her 2025 romantic drama based on Renée Carlino’s 2017 bestseller of the same name.

Carlton revealed that despite their past relationship, which also includes being photographed together at red carpet events over the years, she had to audition for the opportunity to score music for the film, which hits theaters on January 17.

Vanessa Carlton and Julia Stiles in 2003.

Lawrence Lucier/Getty

Julia Stiles was ‘so happy’, her son saw her in a ‘leading role’ Wish You Were Here Set: ‘He didn’t want to leave’ (Exclusive)

“We auditioned — we read the script last summer,” says the three-time Grammy nominee, referring to herself and husband John McCauley of the rock band Deer Tick and Dennis Ryan Engineering. “We had to throw our hat in the ring with our themes and then we got the job.”

“It was so fantastic – our first time scoring a film,” adds Carlton. “Julia is such an amazing director and gave us such wonderful clear musical direction, so it was a real pleasure to create the atmosphere for the film musically.”

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Vanessa Carlton and Julia Stiles in 2011.

Scott Rudd/WWD/Penske Media via Getty

Julia Stiles says 10 things I hate about you Character who ‘meant a lot’ as teen star: ‘I was vulnerable’ (Exclusive)

Asked what it’s been like to see where they’ve both ended up in entertainment since meeting in high school, Carlton praised their relationship.

“I think it’s a dream,” Carlton says. “I really think it takes a lot of hard work and dealing with a lot of tricky situations, but I think friendships are really important and I can’t speak for her, but I think she should be really proud of the work she’s done and where she’s headed.”

Wish You Were Here — starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Gray and Kelsey Grammer — is in theaters now.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education