It was 22nd January, 2008 when the world received the news of the untimely death of the controversial actor Heath Ledger, aged 28. The medical report stated death due to acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine. It was concluded that the manner of death was accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.
9 years down the line, no one has been able to feel the void left by Heath Ledger, legendary in his character of the Joker, in ‘The Dark Knight’.
Ledger’s preparation for becoming the Joker has now been shown to the whole world by Daily Mail. Heath had decided to use method acting as a way to get into the psychotic mind of the Joker. In order to convincingly play the villain’s role, Ledger made a diary to help him get into, and stay in character, while filming of ‘The Dark Knight’. In the diary Heath collected pictures of violence and of other iconic movie characters that were insane. Ledger had apparently locked himself in a hotel room in order to completely immerse himself into the psyche of the Joker. On the final page of the diary, Heath eerily wrote the words “bye bye.”
Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is considered to be the best adaptation of Batman’s arch enemy as it is not everyday that a villain overpowers the hero in a Batman movie. Due to his iconic performance, Heath Ledger was awarded an Academy Award, posthumously.
