Michael Caine reflects on Heath Ledger’s…
Michael Caine is getting candid on the late Heath Ledger.
The English actor, 92, launched his latest memoir, “Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life,” within the US on Tuesday and spoke about his time with the late star.
Caine labored with Ledger on the second movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy — 2008’s “The Dark Knight” — and remembers him as a “lovely guy, very gentle and unassuming.”
But when it got here to remodeling into the function of the Joker, Caine recalled that Ledger may flip it on for the cameras.
Sir Michael Caine attends the world premiere of “King of Thieves”‘” at Vue West End on Sept. 12, 2018. WireImage
Heath Ledger (seated) and Christian Bale in 2008’s “The Dark Knight.” ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
“It was chilling. Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action — I was terrified!” he writes within the memoir.
Caine notes that Ledger would go on to be remembered as a “great actor.” The Hollywood star died in New York City in January 2008 from an unintended overdose at age 28.
“You think of what he might have gone on to achieve, it’s just heartbreaking. We were all terribly shocked, and it made doing the publicity for ‘The Dark Knight’ that summer much more intense, because all the journalists wanted to talk about his death,” he pens.
“I was so pleased when he was awarded the posthumous Oscar, because it must have been at least some sort of comfort for his poor family,” continues Caine. “The truth is, we’d all hoped he would win an Academy Award and thought he should, even while we were still filming the movie.”
Naomi Watts and then-boyfriend Ledger. AFP/Getty Images
Christian Bale starred as Batman within the trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan. The franchise started in 2005 with “Batman Begins,” and went on with 2008’s “The Dark Knight” and 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Caine portrayed Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s (Batman) confidant within the movie.
Bale, 51, mirrored on working with Ledger as famous in Joseph McCabe’s 2017 guide, “100 Things Batman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.”
Ledger poses during the picture call for “A Knight’s Tale” on Sept. 1, 2001. Getty Images
“Our first scene was in an interrogation room together, and I saw that he’s a helluva actor who’s completely committed to it and totally gets the tone that Chris is trying to create with this,” he instructed the creator during an interview across the time of the movie’s release. “We’re not going for actors revealing their enjoyment of enjoying a wacky caricature. We’re treating this as severe drama.
“You go into character and you stay in the character. I love that. I find that so ridiculous that I love it, and I take that very seriously. Heath was definitely embracing that. When he was in the makeup and the garb he was in character the whole time; and when he took it off he was absolutely fantastic company to be around.”
After Ledger’s death, a toxicology report revealed he died from a deadly combine of pharmaceuticals.
Caine attends a screening “My Generation” during the 61st BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 8, 2017. John Phillips
Ledger on the 56th Berlin International Film Festival. Getty Images
The actor had welcomed daughter Matilda, now 19, with ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams three years earlier than his passing.
Williams, 44, and Ledger started courting in 2005 after assembly on the set of “Brokeback Mountain.” The pair had their daughter in October of that yr, however cut up up for good in October 2007.
“Every time I really miss him and wonder where he’s gone, I just look at her,” the “Dawson’s Creek” alum instructed Vogue in 2009. “I can talk about grief, because that’s mine, about single parenting, about trying to balance work and kids. But what I don’t have to talk about is what happened between Heath and me in our relationship.”
Ledger from the movie “Candy.” Getty Images
For Williams, the Ang Lee-directed drama was an “unrepeatable moment in time.”
“A very charmed time in my life. I was in love,” she went on. “I was in a movie I was proud to be a part of and with a beautiful, brand new baby. Everything was good in that moment.”
In January, Ledger’s “10 Things I Hate About You” co-star, Julia Stiles, additionally opened up concerning the pleasure of working with the Australian native within the 1999 movie.
“He was such a force,” mentioned the actress whereas on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”
“He walked into a room and just lit it up and had so much energy and passion,” she added. “It’s really sad that he’s gone.”
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