Heath Ledger

I'm genuinely shocked and saddened at the news of Heath Ledgers death.

He always came across as one of the more sensitive and relaxed Hollywood actors, who channeled everything he had into some stunning performances. People will talk about his role in Brokeback Mountain (and rightly so), but he had a fun side too, as seen in A Knights Tale. He stole every scene from Matt Damon in The Brothers Grimm and had just started shooting for a second film with Terry Gilliam.

I first came across him in 1999s 10 Things I Hate About You and while contemporary Shakespearean teen romcoms may not be everyones cup of tea, two people really stood out, Ledger and Julia Stiles.

I could write more, but instead I'd recommend reading this very poignant blog from the Guardians film critic, Peter Bradshaw. It pretty much sums up my feelings now that this news has started to sink in.

Of all the young actors who appear in teen romcoms very few actually amount to anything. Ledger was different. He took on risky, unpopular roles and actively avoided the spotlight. He had the ability to become a legend, sadly he may now achieve it for the wrong reason - dying tragically young.