Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger, he has appeared in a number of films, including Batman: The Dark Knight.

Patrick is an adolescent rebel at Padua Stadium High School who smokes cigarettes and drinks at the neighbourhood pub's billiard hall. Patrick, who has lived in Australia since he was ten years old, has a partially Australian accent that occasionally switches to an American accent.As he falls in love with Kat, Patrick's demeanour begins to shift.

Julia Stiles, who has later appeared in The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, plays Kat Stratford.

Kat Stratford is initially one of the most despised students at Padua Stadium High School, but she improves as the film progresses. Kat is an arrogant, cold young lady who doesn't care what others think of her. She reads novels like The Bell Jar and listens to Riot Grrrl. Kat is adamantly opposed to dating and scoffs at the mention of adolescent social life. When Kat falls for Patrick, we witness her progressively grow, and her connection with her sister Bianca becomes much stronger.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Robin in the forthcoming Batman and The Dark Knight Rises, plays Cameron James.

Cameron James, a new student at Padua Stadium High School, is infatuated by Bianca, the school's beauty queen. Cameron is a charming, delicate child whose father is a member of the United States Army. Michael is one of his pals in the film, while Patrick becomes a close buddy later on. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Cameron is getting closer to meeting the girl of his dreams.

Larry Miller, who has been in a number of films, including Alpha and Omega, plays Walter Stratford.

In the film, Walter Stratford plays Bianca and Kat's father. He is the usual father who does not want his daughters to become independent, which enlaces Walter becoming a spectator. In the movie, he has an extremely humorous attitude and refuses to allow Kat and Bianca date because he believes they are just interested in males, drugs, sex, and drinking, which is clearly not the case. Walter eventually comes to the decision that if Kat can find a boyfriend, Bianca will be permitted to date.

Larisa Oleynik, who also featured in Backyard Wedding, plays Bianca Stratford.

Bianca Stratford is the princess of Padua Stadium High School and a close friend of Chastity. Bianca is Kat's younger sister, and she is portrayed as a very attractive, popular girl who dresses in expensive clothing and prefers Cameron, the school's new nerdy kid, to Joey, the most popular boy in the school. As the movie progresses, we watch Bianca alter dramatically,as she becomes increasingly angry with Joey and develops feelings for Cameron. Bianca also strengthens her relationship with her sister Kat throughout the film.

Andrew Keegan, who has been in a number of other films, including Love, Wedding, Marriage, plays Joey Donner.

Joey Donner is the playboy, model, and regrettably, the most popular guy at Padua Stadium High School. Joey is a conceited jerk who only cares about himself and his appearance. We learn in the movie that Joey had a sexual connection with Kat and was trying to have one with her younger sister Bianca, but he fails miserably with Bianca and loses her to the new youngster Cameron.