With his roles in Brokeback Mountain and the forthcoming Candy, Heath Ledger seems to be carving out a niche playing troubled, emotionally complex characters. The hunky actor's feelings couldn't have been more clear when he was snapped out and about in New York with his two leading ladies, however.
The Aussie star was photographed taking a stroll through the streets of Manhattan with his girlfriend Michelle Williams and their five-month-old daughter Matilda. Casually dressed in a hooded top and grey cap, the award-winning actor held his partner's hand tightly before kissing her warmly when they went their separate ways.
Heath is currently the toast of Tinseltown thanks to his Oscar-nominated role in the alternative romance Brokeback Mountain. He says working with Michelle, who played his wife in the flick, made his love scenes with Jake Gyllenhaal easy.
"On set I was falling in love with Michelle," he explained. "For the role, I drew on having been in love in the past to help me fall in love in character and that's also how I knew how to kiss a man, because I've kissed a girl and it's the same thing."
The 6ft 1in star was considered front-runner for the best actor gong at the Oscars, but Capote's Philip Seymour-Hoffman upset the odds by taking victory on the night. Heath, who turns 26 next week, says awards and trophies don't seem so important now that he has become a dad, though.
"Matilda's great - she's just so adorable, and I love her very much," he enthused. "We're just enjoying being at home and spending time with her. That beats anything. Fatherhood is just what I expected it would feel like and it's what I've always wanted. It's marvellous, and the most remarkable experience I've ever had."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
