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Sadly, Hollywood history is full of amazing performers who were cut down in the prime of their lives. Even though these actors live forever through their films, it’s always sad to imagine how many more stories they could have brought to life had they lived longer.
Heather Ledger is one such actor. After the success of his performance in The Dark Knight, everyone assumed that Ledger had an amazing career ahead of him. Tragically, the actor died in 2008, leaving behind a legacy of powerful performances.
He also left something else behind…a legacy that will carry his story through the years. We’re talking about Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda; keep reading to learn everything you need to know!
Who is the mother of Heath Ledger’s daughter?
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At the height of his power and fame, Heath Ledger could have been romantically involved with anyone that he wanted. Therefore, when hearing that the famous actor has a daughter, everyone can’t help but ask the same question: “who’s the mother?”
In this case, the mother is Michelle Williams, a fellow actor best known for her performance in Dawson’s Creek. Her and Ledge’s child Matilda was born in 2005, but the couple called it quits in 2007. After Ledger’s untimely death in 2008, Williams was left to raise Matilda on her own.
Bonding over Ledger’s career
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Obviously, Heath Ledger didn’t have nearly enough time with his daughter. Fortunately, though, the two found something to bond over. Namely, they bonded over Ledger’s career and a general love of films, leaving behind something of a bittersweet memory for one veteran director.
According to director Terry Gilliam, Ledger had a tendency to carry young Matilda around in his backpack and bring her over to the director’s home to discuss a film they were working on (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus). This cute little anecdote proves that the famous actor knew how to balance time spent on his career and time spent with his family. Right up until the end, Ledger was spending as much time with his daughter as he possibly could.
A horrific loss at a young age
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For a child, there is never a good time for their parent to die. Matilda, however, had it worse than most because her father died when she was only two years old. The suddenness of Heather Ledger’s departure left the young girl emotionally reeling.
Michelle Williams once told a heartbreaking story that after Ledger died, Matilda would constantly pester her with the same question. “Where’s daddy?” For Williams, hearing that question repeatedly was enough to constantly re-open the trauma. Raising Matilda as a single mother was always going to be a challenge, but now Williams had to overcome the initial hurdle of explaining to the young girl that her father was dead and never coming back.
A heartwarming tribute
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While he is mostly remembered for The Dark Knight, it was The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus that is the last film Heath Ledger ever worked on. He died while the movie was still filming, and this left the director, Terry Gilliam, in something of a bind. In short, how was he going to deal with the sudden loss of one of his main characters?
Matilda ultimately supported a very unique solution: the director had the film’s other leading actors (Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell) take turns playing Ledger’s character. Later, those actors paid Matilda back (quite literally) by donating their collective film salaries to the young girl. That generosity was likely reassuring in the face of drama related to Heath Ledger’s will.
Avoiding drama over the will
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The one cold comfort that some people had for Ledger’s passing is that his daughter would be set for life. With a rich and famous father suddenly passing away, she should have almost instant access to millions of dollars, right?
Nope…at least, not at first. It turns out that Heath Ledger had not specified his daughter in the will. Because of that, his sizable estate was originally going to go to his parents and sisters. This could have been legal drama in the making, but Ledger’s father surprised the world by declaring that the family would donate everything to Matilda.
Matilda, all grown up
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These days, Matilda has grown into a teenager. At 18 years old, one of the most striking things about the young woman is how much she resembles her famous father. According to Matilda’s grandfather, she also resembles Ledger in spirit thanks to her energy and super-specific mannerisms.
If you’re wondering why you don’t hear much about Matilda or see many pictures of her, that is by choice. While the teen may be the daughter of a world-famous actor, she currently enjoys keeping a low profile for herself. Should that ever change, however, we’re confident she will be able to enter practically any industry and become the kind of globally famous figure that her dad was.