Katarina Stratford
Played by Julia Stiles, Katarina "Kat" Stratford is a senior at Padua High School who is known for her rebellious nature and fiercely feminist personality. She is rude, especially to men, and is frustrated with her father for being overprotective and not allowing her to attend Sarah Lawrence College. Over the course of the film, Kat gradually reveals why she behaves the way she does, and ultimately falls for the equally feared male lead, Patrick Verona.
Bianca Stratford
Played by Larisa Oleynik, Bianca Stratford is Kat's younger sister. She is beautiful and popular, and detests her older sister for interfering with her own reputation. Bianca desperately wants to be able to date, but is not allowed to do so until Kat also dates. Bianca therefore becomes an accessory to Cameron and Michael's plan, though she is originally interested in Joey rather than Cameron. However, over the course of the movie, Bianca comes to realize how selfish Joey is and eventually rejects him for Cameron.
Patrick Verona
Played by Heath Ledger, Patrick Verona is a mysterious and intimidating "bad boy" who attends Padua High School. Patrick smokes, drinks, and is generally feared by the entire student body. Michael and Cameron select Patrick as the only person at school who would be able to handle dating Kat, and they offer to pay him to take her out. Patrick goes along with the bribe but eventually falls in love with Kat and uses the money to buy her a new guitar.
Cameron James
Played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cameron James is a new student at Padua High School. He is instantly taken with Bianca, and he and his friend Michael hatch a plan that will allow Bianca to date. Cameron is disappointed to see that Bianca is actually interested in Joey, but he soon wins her over when Bianca realizes how self-absorbed Joey is.
Michael Eckman
Played by David Krumholtz, Michael Eckman is Cameron's new friend that he makes at Padua. Michael is a veritable geek who seeks popularity among the "cool" kids but is relentlessly mocked. Michael helps Cameron by orchestrating the plan to get Patrick to date Kat, convincing Joey that he is involved in the scheme in order to become cool.
Joey Donner
Played by Andrew Keegan, Joey Donner is an affluent and self-absorbed popular student at Padua. He is an aspiring model, and frequently bores Bianca with details from his upcoming photo shoots. Joey provides Michael and Cameron with the money they need to pay Patrick to date Kat, believing that his involvement will allow him to date Bianca. However, Bianca eventually rejects Joey and chooses Cameron instead.
Walter Stratford
Played by Larry Miller, Walter Stratford is Kat and Bianca's father. He is an obstetrician and single parent who is fiercely overprotective of his two daughters.
Chastity Church
Played by Gabrielle Union, Chastity is Bianca's best friend. Chastity, like most of the popular kids, is self-absorbed and rude to Cameron when he attempts to court Bianca. Chastity eventually attends the prom with Joey after Bianca rejects him.
Mandella
Played by Susan May Pratt, Mandella is Kat's only friend. She is a fan of William Shakespeare, whom she quotes frequently. Mandella ends up attending the prom like Michael, dressed as the Bard.
Ms. Perky
Played by Allison Janney, Ms. Perky is the school guidance counselor who also dabbles in writing erotic literature.
Mr. Morgan
Played by Daryl Mitchell, Mr. Morgan is Kat's English teacher. A Black man, he is a source of comic relief as he mocks Kat's feminist rants by reminding her of her upper-middle-class white privilege.
