Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is widely regarded as one of the filmmaker’s best works. And the superhero film is also known for Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal of the Joker. Ledger’s performance is celebrated as one of the finest in cinema, with the actor taking extreme measures to prepare for the role.
The late Oscar-winner actor isolated himself from others and adopted various intense methods to effectively bring the DC villain to life on-screen. Ledger’s deep immersion into his character was so profound that his co-star, Eric Roberts, was advised to keep his distance while filming the 2008 superhero film.
The Dark Knight Actor Was Told to Stay Away From Heath Ledger
During a recent appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Eric Roberts shared his experience working with Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. The Oscar-nominated actor took on the role of Gotham crime boss Sal Maroni in the film.
“What a lovely person he was,” he said while revealing that he was advised to stay away from him as he was deeply immersed in his character, suggesting that Ledger might be unapproachable or too consumed by his character.
“I have been told to stay away from Heath. He’s into the character oh my God… He’s gone,” he said. However, Roberts also shared that despite these assertions Ledger seemed perfectly fine and normal during conversations, as he recalled one particular incident.
He’s gone wasn’t like that at all. He was perfectly fine — He walked in the rehearsal for it—it’s a camera rehearsal—and we’re all like in our street clothes, all hanging out, we all have our scripts. And he’s going through the monologue… [When] he’s done, he turns and he goes, “How am I doing?”
Roberts described The Patriot actor as charming, likable, and sweet, saying that the things he has heard about him were mostly not true. “He was a lovely person, he was a real loss,” he further stated, remembering the late actor, who passed away in 2008 due to an accidental overdose.
Heath Ledger Considered Joker a Remarkable Achievement in His Career
With his exceptional performance in The Dark Knight, the late actor set a new standard for the character. The actor also considered it a remarkable accomplishment in his acting career, as revealed in the documentary I Am Heath Ledger.
He described Joker as the first character he felt he truly mastered, immersing himself so deeply in the role that he sometimes felt lost in the character’s persona. However, unlike the popular perceptions that the role was challenging, Ledger enjoyed playing the Batman villain, as per CBR.
Following Ledger’s untimely death, there was speculation linking it to the psychological toll of portraying Joker. However, the documentary clarifies that Ledger was content and fulfilled in his personal life. He was also reportedly working with Terry Gilliam on a movie.
The Dark Knight is available to stream on Max.
