Thu 24 Jan 2008
Two years ago I sat with five other international journalists in a round-table interview with Heath Ledger at the Berlin Film Festival. He was there to promote “Candy”, in which he played a heroine junkie, but this was just before the 2006 Oscars so many of the questions were about his Oscar nomination for “Brokeback Mountain”, alongside with then-wife fiancee Michelle Williams.
Although we threw him soft balls, he was surprisingly forthright and candid. The stories about him training to be a junkie, and learning how to shoot up, on “Candy” are chilling. His stories about his daughter Mathilda, then only several months old, are moving. And his review of his career - where he says “I did mediocre work in mediocre movies” - is refreshing. He seemed very much grounded back then, nothing that would make you suspect that this will be one of the next victims of the Hollywood burnout system.
I’m uploading the entire 22 minutes raw unedited audio file, because there’s something in his voice that now, after his death, sounds so alive, so aware. Heath Ledger was an actor only starting to realize his own talent and depth, and it seemed that his best work was still ahead of him. When I re-listened to this tape, I found it to be heartbreaking. So I’m sharing.
A round-table interview with Heath Ledger, February 2006
January 24th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Thank you for some serious words on a truly serious and wonderful young actor.
It was sad listening to his voice and once again realize that the “glossy paltter” we are all so interested in is never as glossy as we think.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
just to say once more, that Michelle Williams was never really his wife…
very sad and touching, thanks for sharing.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Thanks for sharing the audio tape. I’m a 70 year old married guy with two grown children. Well, I guess they’re not children anymore.
I’m still trying to figure out why Heath Ledger’s death has impacted me so much. I think it’s because I feel a little guilty about it. He was only 18-19 in the first film I saw of his (an Australian flick), and I watched his career develope over the years. I also saw his personal life start to disintegrate in 2007.
He didn’t know me, of course. There is nothing I could have done to stop what happened on January 22nd, but I think I saw it coming … and now wish I would at least have TRIED.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Miri, At the time of the interview, Heath and Michelle considered themselves married, whether or not they did it legally or not.
They had determined that their arrangement was going to be permanent. Also, Heath was INTRODUCING Michelle as his wife, to interviewers, friends, peers, etc. So since he considered her his wife, and she him her husband, it’s not only appropriate to refer to them as such during that time period, but it’s respectful of their wishes. You refer to the person the way THEY want you to.
It was not until 2007 that they switched back to calling each other boyfriend/girlfriend.
Also, I want to say that the media created “troubled soul” is crap. No one’s life is perfectly glossy, but even while dealing with a breakup, Heath was still happy about the new opportunities and projects he was actively working on, he was constantly creating, and excited about the direction he was going. He had no problem getting out of the character of the Joker, a role that gave him so much fun and pleasure he couldn’t wait to play it again, he was completely clean and sober, and he was looking forward to so much.
Dick, I too wish I had done or said something. But who really would have thought something would happen to him? He was strong, brilliant, kind, gentle and young. He affected so many people who never even knew him, because he was a truly gentle, loving and compassionate soul. He also had a wisdom and understanding that few have, especially at 28. And the world, while taking it for granted, could feel what was lost when he passed.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Yair, Heath was not a victim of Hollywood’s burnout system. It’s nothing like what the media have made it to be. Everyone has decided to remain private, as is their right, but truly there is no tragic scandal here. You just have to listen to those who knew him and take them at their word. He was not a Hollywood burnout.