The Talented Mr. Ledger

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger

1979 ~ 2008

Goodnight, Sweet Prince -
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

You will always be loved and missed - rest in peace, dear sweet Heath.

~~~~~

My first exposure to the work of Heath Ledger was his role in Monster's Ball, but I gained a true appreciation for his talent after I saw his stunning performance as Ennis del Mar in Brokeback Mountain.

I have a complicated relationship with the character of Ennis del Mar; I've ached for his loneliness and isolation, felt for his early loss of family and being thrown into adult responsibilities all too soon, and wanted to make it all up to him. I've wanted to grab him by his shoulders and shake some sense into him for being so stubborn and bull-headed, in foolishly not accepting the gift of love from Jack Twist, simply because it came in the form of another man. I've wanted to try and get through to him that this love would have been the answer to everything. I've been angry with him for hurting Jack time and again. I've felt his love and passion for Jack that he couldn't hide, try as he might. I've blamed him for Jack's death and cried with him as he felt the crushing loss and regret, and I've ultimately come to understand and love Ennis. I've felt his love for his daughter; he's even reminded me of my relationship with own father. Heath Ledger was Ennis del Mar.

It's a true testament to Heath's Ledger's acting ability that he could convey to and bring out such complex feelings in his audience, and that he could portray Ennis as the iconic American cowboy, stoic on the outside, but complex as well, having such deep feelings that would surface every little while.

We feel the loss of not only Heath Ledger the man, but the loss of all that he could bring us in the future through his acting.