Since the initial controversies surrounding the tragic and untimely death of actor Heath Ledger have calmed down, those closest to the Aussie star have spoken about the man behind the actor. In a feature in Interview magazine, the more private and personal side to Heath is explored and revealed by many including his agent Steve Alexander, ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts, friends Ellen DeGeneres and Sean Penn, Oscar rival Philip Seymour Hoffman, director Todd Haynes (helmer of the Dylan bio-pic I'm Not There starring Heath) and most interestingly, his former fiancée and mother to his daughter, Michelle Williams.
"He had an uncontrollable energy," shared Williams. "He buzzed. He would jump out of bed. For as long as I'd known him, he had bouts with insomnia. He just had too much energy. His mind was turning, turning, turning - always turning. He had a talent for everything that he put his mind to. He didn't know limits. I think that the interesting thing about Heath, which maybe people have only really fully discovered in his death, his how vulnerable he was. You can pick up on it in his performances, but it's easy to overlook because he was so physical and beautiful and strong and masculine. But there was always that underlying sensitivity. That's who he was."
Seymour Hoffman was impressed with Ledger's exuberance when the two were rivals for the Best Actor Oscar in 2006. "His body was always in motion," explains the star, adding that Ledger had a "childlike enthusiasm". His agent Steve Alexander agreed, likening Heath to a "rolling stone". Fellow Aussie and former flame Watts noted "His acting was just so touching, so connected in truth. I think he was just getting started."
[via IMDb]
