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

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

While speaking to PEOPLE at a screening for Stiles’ directorial debut movie, Wish You Were Here, in New York City on Jan. 15, the “Ordinary Day” singer shared that she had actually met Stiles three decades ago.

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

The 10 Things I Hate About You actress tapped the “A Thousand Miles” singer to score Wish You Were Here, her 2025 romantic drama based on Renée Carlino’s 2017 best-selling novel of the same name.

Carlton revealed that despite their past connection, which also includes being photographed together at red carpet events over the years, she had to audition for the chance to score the movie, which hit theaters on Jan. 17.

Related: Julia Stiles Was 'So Happy' Son Saw Her in a 'Leadership Role' on Wish You Were Here Set: 'He Didn’t Want to Leave' (Exclusive)

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

“It was so fabulous — our first time scoring a film,” Carlton adds. “Julia is such an amazing director, and she gave us such wonderful clear guidance musically, so it was a real pleasure to set the mood musically for the film.”

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Related: Julia Stiles Says 10 Things I Hate About You Character 'Meant a Lot' as a Teen Star: 'I Was Vulnerable' (Exclusive)

Asked how it has been to see where they both have ended up in entertainment since they met in high school, Carlton touted their bond.

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

Wish You Were Here — which stars Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer — is now in theaters.

Read the original article on People