Bio
Heath Ledger is an Australian actor best known for his roles in the films The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain and Casanova.
Ledger was born in Perth, Australia. He is of Irish and Scottish descent, and lived in Western Australia, attending Marys Mount Primary School, in Gooseberry Hill, and later attended Guildford Grammar School and its preparatory school of the same name.
At 16, Ledger sat for early graduation exams, and left school to pursue his career in acting with girlfriend Jenna Sorrell.
With his best friend, Trevor DiCarlo, Ledger made the cross country drive to Sydney. But his break took him back to Perth, for the TV series Sweat (1996), in which he played a gay elite cyclist. Although the series failed to have much of an impact, he then starred in the American television series, Roar.
In 1997 he played the role of Scott Irwin in the Australian soapie Home And Away.
In 1999, Ledger starred in the Hollywood teen comedy 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 as Mel Gibson's character's son, Monster's Ball as Billy Bob Thornton's character's son, A Knight's Tale, Ned Kelly as the title character, The Order, and The Brothers Grimm co-starring Matt Damon.
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 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.
The same year as Brokeback Mountain, Ledger played a fictionalised version of Giacomo Casanova in Casanova. The film, a frothy romantic comedy which co-starred Sienna Miller and mostly ignored recorded history, drew mixed reviews from critics and failed to find a significant audience among general moviegoers, though it fared better on DVD.
In Spring 2006, it was announced that Ledger would portray Bob Dylan in the film I'm Not There. Although not actually playing Dylan himself, Ledger along with several other actors will portray different sides of Dylan.
On July 31, 2006, Ledger was officially confirmed to play iconic comic book villain The Joker in The Dark Knight, the sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins, opposite fellow I'm Not There star Christian Bale. The film is due in 2008.
He directed the video for the Ben Harper song "Morning Yearning", taken from the album "Both sides of the gun".
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.
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 also 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."
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.
Ledger also came under fire after he was quoted in January 2006 in Australia's Herald Sun; incorrectly assuming that West Virginia had banned Brokeback Mountain, he referred to the state as having had lynchings as recently as the 1980s.
These statements have been roundly disputed by archivists and historians, who have found that the last extra-legal public hanging in West Virginia occurred in 1931.
Ledger had a relationship with Naomi Watts, whom he met in 2002 during the filming of Ned Kelly. They started dating in August 2002. The couple ended their relationship in April 2004. Previously, he had dated actresses Lisa Zane and Heather Graham.
Ledger is 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. Her godfather is Jake Gyllenhaal and her godmother Busy Philipps, Michelle's co-star in Dawson's Creek.
Ledger and his family reside in Brooklyn, New York. Ledger sold his Australian residence in Bronte, New South Wales, for A$7-million.
He is a supporter of the West Coast Eagles Football Club in the Australian Football League.