Heath Ledger

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger (born April 4, 1979) is an Academy Award-nominated Australian film actor.

Early life

Ledger was born in Perth, Australia of Irish and Scottish descent. He lived in Western Australia, attending Marys Mount Primary School, in Gooseberry Hill, and later attended Guildford Grammar School. He left school at 16, a year earlier than most high school students in Australia. He then moved to Sydney with his best friend, Trevor DiCarlo, in pursuit of a career in acting. Ledger got his break in a TV series made in Perth, Sweat (1996), playing the part of a gay elite cyclist. Although the series failed to have much of an impact, he then starred in the US television series, Roar.

Film career

In 1999, Ledger starred in the Hollywood movie 10 Things I Hate about You and also had the lead role in the acclaimed Australian movie Two Hands, directed by Gregor Jordan. Since then he has starred in The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale, Ned Kelly, The Sin Eater AkA The Order, and The Brothers Grimm.

Ledger had a successful year in 2001, with his ShoWest Award for the Male Star of Tomorrow based on his performance in The Patriot, and worldwide release of the hit anachronistic jousting romp A Knight's Tale. In 2003, Ledger was named one of Australian GQ's Men of the Year for acting.

In 2005, Ledger received a "Best Actor in a Drama" Golden Globe nomination for his acclaimed performance in Brokeback Mountain, in which he plays Wyoming ranch hand Ennis Del Mar, who has a love affair with aspiring rodeo rider Jack Twist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. In the New York Times review of Brokeback Mountain, film critic Stephen Holden wrote:

"Both Mr. Ledger and Mr. Gyllenhaal make this anguished love story physically palpable. Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn."

In another review in Rolling Stone magazine, film critic Peter Travers wrote:

"Ledger's magnificent performance is an acting miracle. He seems to tear it from his insides. Ledger doesn't just know how Ennis moves, speaks and listens; he knows how he breathes. To see him inhale the scent of a shirt hanging in Jack's closet is to take measure of the pain of love lost."

Ledger has received "Best Actor of 2005" awards for Brokeback Mountain from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Actor" for his performance.

In Spring 2006, it was announced that Ledger would portray Bob Dylan in the biopic I'm Not There.

Relationship with the press

Ledger has a turbulent relationship with elements of the news media, particularly paparazzi photographers. It is alleged that he spat at and assaulted a photographer in Sydney in 2004, while a relative also is alleged to have spat on a photographer in 2005. Ledger strongly denies the accusation.Heath Explains. February 2006. LATimes.com. On 13 January 2006, several photographers retaliated, squirting Ledger with water pistols as he walked the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger has more recently been subject to critical commentary and analysis in the press following his performance on stage at the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Ledger was seen giggling and his behaviour was described as odd when presenting Brokeback Mountain as a nominee for Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The Los Angeles Times described his behaviour as "some kind of gay spoof."Los Angeles Times. Heath Explains. February 2006. LATimes.com. Ledger later called the Times to explain that his actions were the result of stage fright given that he was ill-prepared to present the nomination, only being aware of his role minutes beforehand. "I am so sorry and I apologise for my nervousness," Ledger told the newspaper.The Age. Ledger in damage control. February 12, 2005. TheAge.com

Ledger also came under fire after he was quoted in January 2006 in Australia's Herald Sun in which he insulted the U.S. state of West Virginia. When Ledger incorrectly assumed that the state was banning "Brokeback Mountain," he made statements that West Virginia had lynchings as recently as the 1980s. These statements have been roundly disputed by archivists and historians, who point out that the last extra-legal public hanging in West Virginia occurred in 1931.^*

Private life

Ledger met his former girlfriend Naomi Watts in 2002 during the filming of Ned Kelly. They started dating in August 2002. The couple ended their relationship in April 2004.

Ledger is currently engaged to actress Michelle Williams, whom he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain. They have a daughter, Matilda Rose, who was born on October 28, 2005. The couple's Brokeback Mountain co-star Jake Gyllenhaal recently confirmed that he is Matilda's godfather.

He is a supporter of the West Coast Eagles Football Club in the Australian Football League.

As of 2006, Ledger currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, and Sydney, Australia.HeathBaby.com. Heath Ledger Bio. Accessed February 14, 2005. Ledger is currently selling his Australian residence in Bronte, New South Wales for dollar|A$" target="_blank" >^*7.5 million.The Age. Ledger hopes for $3m profit on beach house. February 10, 2005. TheAge.com

Filmography

2006 || Untitled Stacy Peralta Project >

Films
Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2006	Candy	Dan
2005	Casanova	Giacomo Casanova
2005	Brokeback Mountain	Ennis del Mar	Academy Award nominee (Best Lead Actor) Golden Globe nominee (Best Lead Actor - Drama) BAFTA Award nominee (Best Lead Actor) SAG nominee (Best Lead Actor, Best Ensemble Cast)
2005	The Brothers Grimm	Jacob Grimm
2005	Lords of Dogtown	Skip Engblom
2003	The Order	Alex Bernier
2003	Ned Kelly	Ned Kelly	AFI Award nominee (Best Actor in a Leading Role)
2002	The Four Feathers	Harry Faversham
2001	Monster's Ball	Sonny Grotowski
2001	A Knight's Tale	Sir William Thatcher/Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland
2000	The Patriot	Gabriel Martin
1999	10 Things I Hate about You	Patrick '"Pat" Verona
1999	Two Hands	Jimmy	AFI Award nominee (Best Actor in a Leading Role)
1997	Paws	Oberon
1997	Blackrock	Toby
Television
1997	Home and Away	Scott Irwin
1997	Roar	Conor
1996	Sweat	Snowy Bowles

Notes

External links

General:

Interviews:
- Ledger interview, 2005, The Mercury News
- Ledger interview, 2001, E Online