Kat Stratford: The Tortured Poet We Need Right Now

As Taylor Swift’s latest album continues to make waves, we take a look back at one of the best coming-of-age rom-coms ever made, 10 Things I Hate About You, and its iconic protagonist, Kat Stratford. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” the film stars Julia Stiles as Kat, a rebellious and outspoken teenager who falls in love with the equally brooding Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger. Kat is a true tortured poet, a misfit who is both assertive and vulnerable, and her character reminds us that being angry and being yourself are not mutually exclusive.

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