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Thanks to Hollywood’s blockbusters, some iconic movie lines seem to live on long past their release. However, sometimes, even in the best of films, dialogue doesn’t always land. Despite its beloved status, there’s one line from 10 Things I Hate About You that haunts star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt said one of his lines in ’10 Things I Hate About You’ was ‘completely unrealistic’ 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt 10 things
Larry Miller stands before Larisa Oleynik and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a scene from the film ’10 Things I Hate About You’, 1999. (Photo by Buena Vista/Getty Images)

Gordon-Levitt has said many positive things about his experience filming 10 Things I Hate About You. But there was one thing about the iconic movies that he didn’t necessarily love. 

In the film, his character, Cameron James, played by Gordon-Levitt, had a pretty intense crush on Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik). The audiences and viewers know Bianca is pining for Joey Donner, but Cameron continues to pursue her. 

After he recognizes she isn’t interested, Cameron calls Bianca out. He drives her home and expresses his frustration. Bianca kisses Cameron and gets out of the car. Then, he blurts out, “And I’m back in the game!”

In a video for Vanity Fair, Gordon-Levitt explained he found the line “completely unrealistic,” making it “really hard” to say. 

However, Gordon-Levitt went on to add that he understood the bigger picture and the purpose of the line. He just had to figure out how to make it resonate. “If you can help an audience out and say what you’re feeling, it makes audiences feel great,” he explained. “People still talk to me about that line, even though in real life, no one would ever say that.”

The success behind ’10 Things I Hate About You’ 

10 Things I Hate About You hit the theaters in 1999. The film almost instantly made an impression on the movie industry and pop culture. It focuses on Julia Stiles’ Kat and her younger sister, the aforementioned Bianca. While Bianca wanted to begin dating, her dad wouldn’t let her until Kat did. So Cameron pursues Bianca while recruiting another student to take out Kat. Like other teen romantic comedies of the time, it was based on a Shakespeare play: The Taming of the Shrew.

Gordon-Levitt appeared alongside stars like Stiles, Oleynik, and the late Heath Ledger in the film. In addition to becoming a lasting hit, the movie led to a TV spinoff and helped define the genre. It also led to fantastic careers for many of its stars, including Gordon-Levitt.

A look back at Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s career 

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Few artists are as respected and celebrated as Gordon-Levitt. The actor who is constantly creating and seemingly working on his craft has had an awe-inspiring journey to stardom.

In the Vanity Fair video, Gordon-Levitt revisited some of his most iconic moments on screen. He discussed the brilliance behind Brick and all of the fun he had taking on the role of Joe in Looper. He even touched upon the fan-favorite 500 Days of Summer, as well as the series that made him famous, 3rd Rock From the Sun. 

“I always took acting very seriously,” Gordon-Levitt explained. “Even from a very young age.” This emphasis on quality in his work is likely what made that 10 Things I Hate About You line resonate, despite its lack of realism.

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