With the deal finalized at Paramount Pictures, pre-production for '10 Things I Hate About You' kicked into high gear in early 1982. By mid-February, auditions were underway in a busy casting office on the Paramount lot. Seated behind the table were first-time director John Hughes, absorbing the process with intense focus; star and co-creator Alex Hayes, gaining a new appreciation for the complexities of casting; and experienced producer Jerry Bruckheimer, lending his veteran oversight. Alex quickly learned firsthand how challenging it was to find actors who perfectly matched the vision he and John held for these characters.
Casting the younger sister, Bianca Stratford, drew a stream of talented young actresses. They saw promising readings from girls like Jami Gertz, Sarah Jessica Parker, and even the well-known Brooke Shields. While several impressed, the role ultimately went to Diane Lane. A promising young actress who had already garnered notice for her debut in 'A Little Romance' (1979) and subsequent roles like 'Touched by Love' (1980), Lane captured Bianca's surface popularity while hinting at an intriguing depth that won over the panel.
For Cameron James, the earnest new kid in school, a charismatic newcomer named John Cusack secured the part.
And for Walter Stratford, the protective father of the sisters, the respected stage and screen veteran Judd Hirsch was their top choice. Beloved by millions for his Emmy-winning role as Alex Rieger on the hit sitcom 'Taxi' and critically lauded for his powerful, Oscar-nominated performance in the 1980 film 'Ordinary People', Hirsch brought the perfect blend of comedic timing and paternal authority, readily agreeing to join the project.
With these key roles filled, the team hit a significant roadblock: finding the right actress for Kat Stratford. The sharp-witted, independent older sister was the lynchpin of the entire premise. They needed someone who could embody intelligence, a fiercely protective shell, deep-seated vulnerability, and believable chemistry with Alex who would eventually play Patrick Verona. They reviewed countless auditions and considered many promising young actresses, names like Jennifer Jason Leigh, Elisabeth Shue, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore, Daryl Hanna – but none felt like the perfect embodiment of Kat envisioned by Alex and Hughes.
"You know, Alex," he began, his tone exploratory, "we're running through all these names... Has Phoebe Cates come up at all? She's talented, and given..." he paused slightly, acknowledging the situation delicately, "...the connection... why can't we consider her? Is there a particular reason she wouldn't work for this?"
The 'connection' Bruckheimer alluded to was, of course, the newest development in Alex's personal life, already becoming industry knowledge. He and Phoebe Cates had indeed started dating just the month before, January 1982. They'd met at an industry party shortly after she'd broken up with a previous boyfriend, and their mutual attraction had been immediate. Though their relationship was still very new, only about a month old, the intense media focus on Alex meant paparazzi had already snapped photos of them together, splashing the nascent couple across gossip columns and newspapers.
Alex understood Bruckheimer's perspective – it was logical from a purely commercial angle. But his artistic vision for Kat was unwavering. "I hear you on the publicity, Jerry, I do," Alex replied calmly but firmly. "And Phoebe's fantastic. But she's just not Kat. It's not the right fit for the character we wrote. The publicity wouldn't matter if the casting wasn't right for the role itself. We need someone with a different kind of edge for Kat."
His clear separation of the commercial opportunity from the creative necessity seemed to register with Bruckheimer, who gave a slight shrug, indicating the point was made but the search continued.
As February 1982 drew to a close, the main supporting cast for '10 Things I Hate About You' was largely assembled, but the pivotal role of Kat Stratford remained conspicuously vacant, presenting the production's first major creative challenge.
Early March 1982. Pre-production for '10 Things I Hate About You' was moving at an almost breakneck pace. Paramount, eager to capitalize on Alex Hayes's white-hot streak following the massive success of '17 Again', was pushing hard for filming to commence by the end of the month. It felt incredibly fast, especially considering they still hadn't found their Kat Stratford, but the studio was determined to strike while the iron – and their young star – was hot.
Alex felt the pressure, juggling script meetings with John Hughes, discussions with director Robert Zemeckis (who was now simultaneously working on '17 Again' post-production and '10 Things' pre-production), and the ongoing casting process. He was no longer crashing at his Aunt Nancy's; his recent success had allowed him to get his own apartment, a modest but comfortable bachelor pad that finally felt like his own space. Tonight, however, it felt more like a screening room. Spread out on the coffee table were stacks of videotapes – audition submissions for Kat. Alex sat on the sofa, eyes slightly weary but focused, working his way through the remaining candidates.
He barely registered the soft click of the apartment door opening and closing. Suddenly, two arms came from behind, wrapping gently around his neck, followed by a familiar scent. He smiled, tilting his face back to receive a light, welcoming kiss on the mouth from Phoebe. Their relationship had blossomed quickly since January; most nights now, Phoebe came over after her own commitments and stayed the night, falling into an easy domestic rhythm.
She peered over his shoulder at the flickering television screen showing yet another young actress delivering Kat's sharp lines. "Long day?" she asked playfully, pulling away slightly. "Does it feel good? Watching beautiful girls on videotape and getting paid to rate them all day?"
Alex chuckled, pausing the tape. "Well, Phoebe, I don't rate them, I rate their performance," he corrected, turning to her with a teasing grin. "But," he added, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "strictly hypothetically, even if I was rating them... they'd always rate way below you."
She gave his arm a light, mock punch and settled onto the sofa beside him. "Smooth talker. So, are we actually going out tonight, or is the elusive Kat Stratford taking up our whole evening?"
Alex checked his watch. "Wow, it's already 8 PM. Yeah, definitely," he promised. He glanced at the small pile of remaining tapes. "Look, there are only three more here. Seriously, give me fifteen minutes to get through these, and then we can head out to that new Italian place?"
"Okay, fifteen minutes," Phoebe agreed, standing up. "Gives me time for some last-minute repairs," she said with a wry smile, gesturing vaguely towards her face before disappearing towards the bedroom to freshen up her makeup.
Alex sighed and picked up the next tape. He watched the actress's read, noted a few things, but quickly hit eject. He put in the second-to-last tape, giving it his full attention, but again, it wasn't quite right. Finally, he picked up the very last tape in the pile, perhaps feeling a bit resigned. He slotted it into the VCR and pressed play.
He leaned back, initially watching with the same diligent-but-tired expression. Then, something shifted. As the actress on the screen delivered Kat's lines, Alex sat up straighter. His focus became absolute, unwavering, intense. He ignored the time, ignored the world outside the flickering image on the screen. He picked up the remote, rewound a short section, and watched it again, a look of dawning recognition – of discovery – spreading across his face.
Just then, Phoebe returned, makeup touched up, ready to leave. She stopped in the doorway, noticing Alex's complete absorption. He hadn't moved, hadn't even seemed to notice she was back. He was utterly captivated by the performance unfolding on the television. She didn't need to see who was on the tape. She saw the look in Alex's eyes – the focused intensity, the slight, almost imperceptible nod, the undeniable spark of finding exactly what he'd been searching for. She leaned against the doorframe, a soft smile playing on her lips.
She knew Alex got his 'Kat'.