Young Matilda Ledger was only two-years-old when she tragically lost her father, the actor Heath Ledger. But the Australian star's father has admitted that Matilda, now nine, keeps Heath's spirit alive with "an enormous number of his mannerisms".
Kim Ledger revealed that the young girl is "very inquisitive", adding: "She’s got his energy… Heath never slept from when he was two and Matilda’s like that.
"She’s just got this ball of energy and she radiates this little aura, Heath was kind of like that. So it’s fabulous really."
© Photo: RexHeath Ledger with his young daughter in 2006
Speaking on Australian news channel, Channel 10, Kim also discussed his close relationship with Matilda, and her mum, actress and Heath's ex fiancé Michelle Williams.
"Michelle’s been brilliant. She’s kept Heath very much alive in her daughter’s eyes," he told the show’s panel.
"[Matilda is] always full of questions, always wanting to know this or that about her dad. And I guess that will just get more intense as she gets older and obviously we would welcome that."
Kim and his family still live in Heath's hometown of Perth
Michelle and Matilda currently split their time between Los Angeles and New York City, and Kim told the show how the family in Perth talk to Matilda "on Skype a little bit" and that the "family members visit her regularly".
He also added that when the youngster is old enough to travel alone, she is more than welcome to visit them in Australia.
© Photo: PAIn Kim's speech he revealed the award "would've humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be truly accepted"
Heath passed away in 2008 after taking a cocktail of prescription drugs. The 28-year-old was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and had recently finished filming The Dark Knight, a film which would see him posthumously receive the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2009 Academy Awards.
Kim has this week become the patron of not-for-profit organisation Scriptwise, which aims to raise awareness about the dangers and solutions to prescription drug abuse. He discussed Heath's particular case, and hopes that despite the sad circumstances, Heath's profile can bring attention to the charity.
