Ledger wins posthumous award
Heath Ledger’s family paid a tearful tribute to the late Australian actor as they accepted a top Australian film industry award on his behalf.
Ledger was posthumously given the Australian Film Institute’s international award for best actor during the weekend for his virtuoso performance as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.
Ledger’s performance in the Batman blockbuster is regarded as a solid chance for a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor.
“It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration to actors everywhere,” the film institute said at the awards ceremony in Melbourne.
His father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate accepted the award from actor Michael Caton.
“It’s been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member,” said Kate Ledger, fighting back tears.
“We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter, who we will cherish forever,” she added, referring to Matilda Ledger, the three-year-old daughter he had with American actress Michelle Williams.
Sally Ledger thanked the film institute for the tribute to her son, who died aged 28 of an accidental prescription drug overdose in New York in January.
“We are immensely proud of him, not only for his professional achievements, but in the way he truly cherished his family, friends and his precious Matilda,” she said.
“Heath was never one to accept mediocrity, he put his heart and soul into achieving what he believed was required and followed his passions with great enthusiasm and an insatiable curiosity,” she added.
