Heath Ledger’s sisters have dispelled rumors that the actor was depressed after playing The Joker
Making a rare public appearance, Heath Ledger’s sisters, Kate Ledger and Ashleigh Bell, have spoken about their brother’s sad passing in 2008, and opened up about the rumors that have surrounded his death.
The sisters spoke about their brother at the Tribeca Film Festival showing of the upcoming documentary about the late-actor’s life, I Am Heath Ledger, which is expected to have a limited theatrical release on May 3rd before airing on Spike on May 17th.
Ledger sadly passed away in January 2008 following an accidental drug overdose. The star would have been 38 years old this year, and he is still greatly missed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PPTDsTnaPk?feature=oembed
Speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 23rd at the premiere of I Am Heath Ledger, the actor’s sisters, Kate and Ashleigh, remembered their brother, and dispelled some rumors that have circulated following his death.
Firstly, the pair spoke about the decision to make the documentary, explaining that they wanted to show the world what Heath was really like when he was alive.
“We knew the photographer, the father. He was such a filmmaker. He was such a creator of everything,” Ashleigh recalled.
“He was really not a celebrity. In his eyes, he really wasn’t. We wanted that to come through,” Kate added.
The sisters also discussed their brother’s aversion to doing promotional work for movies, citing his experiences after completing A Knight’s Tale as being particularly difficult. “That’s what he really struggled with, putting himself out there and being a salesman and promoting the film,” Kate said.
One thing Kate and Ashleigh were keen to debunk, however, was the rumors that after starring as The Joker in The Dark Knight, Heath had become depressed.
"It was coming out that he was depressed and it was taking a toll, and we were going, 'What?'" Ashleigh said. "It was the absolute opposite," Kate added. "He had an amazing sense of humor, and I guess only his close family and friends really knew that. But he was having fun. He wasn’t depressed about The Joker."
We’re glad that Heath Ledger’s family are getting the chance to tell his story in a way that is meaningful for them, and that will give the world a new perspective on such a great talent. Given that the upcoming documentary will also focus the actor’s desire to jump behind the camera, we can’t wait to see a new aspect to him.
I Am Heath Ledger is being given a short, select theatrical release from May 3rd. The documentary will air on Spike on May 17th.
