# Julia Stiles and Snooki's Save the Last Dance Connection

> Julia Stiles reveals how her 2001 film inspired Nicole Polizzi's 'Snooki' nickname.
- Title: Julia Stiles and Snooki's Save the Last Dance Connection
- Summary: Julia Stiles reveals how her 2001 film inspired Nicole Polizzi's 'Snooki' nickname. Julia Stiles says her 2001 dance movie inspired Nicole Polizzi's nickname…
- Keywords: julia stiles, snooki, save the last dance, nicole polizzi, jersey shore, dancing with the stars, hulu, get real, entertainment, celebrity, Julia, Stiles
- Source: E! Online — https://eonline.com/news/1437096/julia-stiles-reacts-to-snookis-save-the-last-dance-connection
- Published: 2026-10-14T22:58:01+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: julia stiles, snooki, save the last dance, nicole polizzi, jersey shore, dancing with the stars, hulu, get real, entertainment, celebrity
## Julia Stiles Reacts to Snooki’s Connection
Julia Stiles says her 2001 dance movie inspired Nicole Polizzi's 'Snooki' nickname.

> That's so crazy
## Snooki's Nickname Origin
A childhood friend dubbed Polizzi 'Snooki' after she became the first out of their group to kiss a boy.

> the first out of our group to kiss a boy
## Save the Last Dance Inspiration
Polizzi's nickname came from a line in Save the Last Dance where the DJ character was called 'Snook the Coochie Crook'.

> I'm gonna call you 'Snook the Coochie Crook'
## Snooki's Nickname Stuck
Polizzi used the nickname when applying for MTV shows in the early 2000s.

> I was like, 'Nicky, Nic, Snooki'
## Julia Stiles' Dance Career
Stiles danced on a table at a party in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You to captivate film executives.

> Oh, she has rhythm
## Stiles' Dance Training
Stiles trained for a month and a half, four hours a day, to prepare for her role in Save the Last Dance.

> I had to do, like, a month and a half of four hours a day dancing my tush off
## Stiles' Foot Pain
Stiles' feet bled, developed calluses, blisters, and bunions during her dance training.

> Oh my god, I had the nastiest feet…They'd bleed, they'd get calluses, blisters, bunions
## Stiles' No Body Double
Stiles refused to use a body double for her dance scenes in Save the Last Dance.

> I didn't want them to double me
## Sean Patrick Thomas' Experience
Sean Patrick Thomas had no dance experience but trained for Save the Last Dance.

> I didn't have dance experience, except for some aerobics dance classes
## Thomas' Performance
Thomas performed a Save the Last Dance-inspired routine on Dancing With the Stars.

> We had a great time doing Save the Last Dance back in the day
## Julia Stiles' Dance Routine
Stiles integrated ballet and hip-hop moves from her character's Juilliard audition into her DWTS routine.

> I was like, 'Nicky, Nic, Snooki'
## Snooki's Nickname Legacy
Polizzi's nickname 'Snooki' stuck with her through the early 2000s MTV shows.

> I became known as Snooki
## Save the Last Dance 2
A 2006 Save the Last Dance sequel was released as a straight-to-DVD film.

> Save the Last Dance 2
## Stiles' Reaction to Film
Stiles turned off her 2019 TV rewatch of Save the Last Dance because it was cringeworthy.

> it was cringeworthy to me
## Key takeaway

Julia Stiles says her 2001 dance movie inspired Nicole Polizzi's nickname 'Snooki' after a childhood friend dubbed her that way.