To Australians, Heath Ledger was MORE than "just an actor"
January 24, 2008
I was parked at my computer on a Tuesday afternoon, when my wife, Kara, called me from her daily drudgery of work. She quietly spoke a few words that totally crushed my outlook on the day as it had been up until that point.
Like every person who heard the news, I was shocked and saddened. But being an Australian, as Ledger was, it is different.
The difference is even more profound when the individual in question is also from your home town. Both Ledger and I were born and brought up in Perth, Australia; one of the most beautiful places on the face of Earth.
You see, in America, when an Anna Nicole Smith dies, a US citizen would meet the news with a little initial sadness and shock. Then the media oversaturates their programming with repetitive reports about it, and pretty soon, to the American people, it's "just another dead superstar".
But Australians are different.
Let me clarify...
When an Australian person, such as Ledger or Steve Irwin, is swept up into worldwide celebrity, they become part of the pride of and in our nation. Not because they are international celebrities, but because they worked their asses off to get to the point they were at.
Australians are ardently proud of their musicians, actors, athletes, and so on, who have broken out of the borders of their home country, and making names for themselves abroad. There is an factor of pride that feeds into the country's nationalism and patriotism. It is beyond prominence and fortune - it's an acknowledgement of achievement, a recognition of the uphill struggle it takes to reach those goals.
It is tough for Australians to become successful internationally. For every Russell Crowe and INXS you have heard of, there are a myriad of Guy Pearce's and Hunters and Collectors that have achieved success in their home down under; but the achievement of notoriety and fame in the United States is a complicated thing to reach. It is the Holy Grail for Australians who work in entertainment (and sports also, to a degree).
The public in Australia recognize this fact. It is understood that this is no easy task.
So when the reports broke that Heath Ledger had passed away, I was beyond devastated. I felt like I had lost a friend - a mate; even though we had never met. Many people mentioned they felt the same way when Steve Irwin passed away. I felt similarly.
To Aussies, Heath Ledger is not "just another performer". He was a master craftsman who worked tirelessly to improve his skills inside his art. His diversity in acting (from playing a knight, to an Australian lawbreaker, to a gay cowboy, to a face-painted homicidal maniac called The Joker) was tribute to this.
For me, his death hits closer to me personally – simply because he also was born and raised in Perth. I can recollect driving past his school, Guildford Grammar, on numerous occasions. I used to live less than five minutes drive away from Applecross, the suburb in which his relatives predominantly reside. I had spoken with people who had been educated with him, or worked with him.
Though I never met the man personally, it still is an immense loss to the acting community; both back home in Australia, and in Hollywood. His talents will not be forgotten, that is for sure.
One thing, however, that always bugged me, was that several of the films he made in Australia, YOU have probably never seen or heard of previously. Some of these films are of outstanding quality. Here’s a sample of what you have missed out on:
Ned Kelly
A few years back, Heath Ledger had the distinction of portraying the famous Australian bushranger Ned Kelly on screen. If you have never heard of Ned and his Kelly gang, and you probably have not, he was comparable in Australia to what Billy the Kid was to America. He was an outlaw, and as recollections disappeared into history, he became an Australian legend, hero, and icon. Some of the best work by Ledger is in this film. You should go and watch it. And by "you should go and watch it", I mean, "You should go and watch it RIGHT NOW". It is that good.
Two Hands
I recall back in 2002, my wife came to visit me in Australia (we were engaged at that point in time), and I introduced her to Ledger’s acting by making her watch a phenomenal Australian movie called Two Hands. She was floored at how good it was, and we both agreed that Heath was unquestionably on his way to international success. This is another one you need to get your hands on. Pardon the pun.
Blackrock
This movie was Ledger's first major Australian film. He had been in a few projects and television shows prior to this; but for him, this was where the roller coaster ride of accomplishment truly began. It's a story of how friendships are tested, when a horrible offense is perpetrated against a young girl...
Undeniably, Heath Ledger was an extremely talented individual that had no issues with stepping up to and facing additional challenges in the realm of acting.
The release of The Dark Knight still scrambles upon us, and many Ledger fans and comic book geeks are looking forward to the movie. Whether you look at it from the perspective of "in this life or the next", Ledger was BORN to portray the role of The Joker. Sure, some of us had some doubts, but once that theatrical trailer came out, it was very clear that he was the inevitable choice for the part. He will do it justice. The screenings of that film will be an eerie, saddening, yet breathtaking experience. He was a master craftsman of his art, always striving to better himself. His part in The Dark Knight will be his crowning achievement.
RIP Heath Ledger
You will be missed
But you will ALWAYS be remembered
For those interested in leaving messages of condolences to the Ledger family in Perth, Australia, follow this link.
