Backstage Interview Transcript | 81st Academy Awards
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
CATEGORY: Performance by an actor in a supporting role
INTERVIEW WITH: (Accepting for Heath Ledger)
FILM: "The Dark Knight"
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Q. Hi. I just wanted to ask you, you seem to be relatively calm. You must have been very nervous. And secondly, you mentioned that you and Heath have had discussion that maybe this would be something he would be at. Can you tell us more about that discussion and how special it is now?
A. Kate Ledger: Yes. When he firstly, I'm extremely nervous. I didn't know how I was actually going to get up there if we had to, but when he came home for Christmas a year ago, he had been sending me shots and bits and pieces from the film. And he hadn't seen it, I hadn't seen it. No one had really seen it, but he knew. And I said to him, I have a feeling this is it for you. You're going to get a nomination for this. You know, for the Academy. And he just looked at me and smiled. So he knew.
Q. Hi. Congratulations, first of all. And I wanted to ask you, are you going to be taking the statuette home to Australia or will that remain here in the States?
A. Kate Ledger: Obviously, it belongs to Matilda so whatever has to happen in the meantime, we don't know or we haven't discussed it, because we're not too sure at this stage. But I'm sure it will just go somewhere secure in the meantime. And obviously, it will end up with Matilda.
A. Kim Ledger: I mean, we intend, obviously, to keep it for Matilda. Whichever is the best way to keep it with the Oscar you're all aware what they do in this special circumstance for somebody when somebody passes away, then the next of kin, in this case Matilda, will be the recipient really. But she can't sign for it until she's 18, so it stays in trust here or in Australia. We'll work that out, but possibly in trust here until Matilda turns 18.
Q. I was just wondering what was going through your minds when you heard Heath Ledger's name read?
A. Sally Bell: I think we're a little bit overwhelmed actually, because nothing's a sure thing. And, as much as we thought it was a pretty amazing job, we just don't know, do you? So I mean, we were really relieved and excited and really overwhelmed, so it was fantastic. We're very excited.
Q. Hi, Mr. And Ms. Ledger. I just wanted to ask you, Heath went through this award once before with BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. He never seemed to love it. Some people are very comfortable by the whole to do that's made over it. What do you think he would have made of the entire season we've been through now when he's been so celebrated?
A. Sally Bell: I think he would have been quietly pleased, because I think he enjoyed the performance he did. I think he was very proud of what he did. Heath was never one to be over the top with anything, but I think he would be really quietly pleased, you know, that it's being recognized by his peers in the industry.
Q. Firstly, as the parents of Heath Ledger, did you know you were raising a potential Oscar winner? And also, does Matilda know about all this fuss, and how proud is she, and how aware is she of all the respect that Heath has gotten in Hollywood?
A. Kim Ledger: Well, firstly, I think Michelle keeps Matilda closeted in a nice way. I [don't] think she'll really know very much about the fuss of what's going on, which I think is a good thing. And Michelle will make the decisions here when it's appropriate to celebrate this kind of thing. You know, she'll be an age when she can celebrate it and Michelle will make that decision, I'm sure. As far as aspirations, well, Kate was the actor originally. But I guess but I guess Heath was ever the clown and just always with just well, all my kids for some reason just watched films, and they just love it all. And Heath's been like that since a very young age.
He was always acting a fool and playing around. And just like a normal kid does, you know? And I guess the one thing that stuck out in our minds and I'm speaking, I'm sure, on behalf of the girls, is that he was extremely talented and in a lot of areas. And a lot you won't know about you may in the future, but he was extremely talented. And what it always worried me as a parent that God, Heath, you've got to find something you're good at and stick at it because you won't have to we don't know which way he was going to go. But he certainly had an immense passion for this. And I guess from maybe the age of 12 on it became more and more apparent that he was extremely good at what he was doing. And naturally, we as parents were behind him in the sense that we just let him go to do what was best for him.
Q. Hello. This isn't the last you'll see of Heath on screen. We still have IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS. I was wondering if you've seen any footage and what we could expect I guess what would be the final thing we see of Heath on screen?
A. Kate Ledger: We've seen we have seen a little bit of footage. He only completed I think about a third of the film. And then we've had some incredible actors Johnny Depp and Jude Law and Colin Farrell step in to complete it. And I think it's going to be yeah, amazing. Terry is amazing and Heath always had such enthusiasm and interest in whatever Terry was doing so.
Q. Congratulations for your son. What of Heath do you see in Matilda? Does she seem to like to act?
A. Sally Bell: I think just to look at Matilda, to know that she's totally like her daddy. She has the same mannerisms. She has I really feel he's in her.
A. Kim Ledger: She has his boundless energy.
A. Sally Bell: She does. So that's a delight to be watching her and knowing that she's full of enthusiasm in the same energy and she looks a little like him too. So it's really sort of nice. Thank you.
Q. Hi. Congratulations. I'm wondering, have you spoken to Matilda's mother, Michelle Williams? And do you expect to when do you expect to talk to her about this?
A. Kate Ledger: Not just yet, because we've just come here, but we're very close with Michelle. She's doing an amazing job with Matilda, and we speak all the time so we're in constant contact and always will be. Yep.
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