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Saturday, 30 September 2006 |
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Page 6 of 6
Though ostensibly about a forbidden gay love affair, the movie really concerned the living of lies and the denial of self and thus it found a massive audience. Still, given the religious climate in middle America, Ledger and Gyllenhaal were taking a mighty risk and deserved the accolades they received, Ledger being nominated for a Golden Globe, an honour he'd rightly been denied when first taking such a risk, back with Sweat. Many top-lines actors had been afraid to take the lead roles, despite Ang Lee's reputation. Ledger, though, had been encouraged to take it by Naomi Watts and had also been inspired to do so by the story of his own uncle, Neil Bell who, at 20, had been asked by his father if he was gay. Having said yes, his father told him that he was ill and must either go to hospital to be cured, or leave. Eventually, Neil would relocate from Perth to Los Angeles and, for years would bury his sexuality beneath layers of machismo, even venturing out into the Nevada desert to engage in bareknuckle boxing tournaments.
Beyond the accolades, Brokeback Mountain would also bring Ledger a wife in Michelle Williams, formerly the star of TV hit Dawson's Creek. She, like her husband, had left school early and sought a new life of her own. Indeed, she'd revealed an even more independent steak than Ledger's in that she'd fought for legal emancipation from her parents and taken off for Los Angeles on her own. She, too, would be nominated for a Golden Globe for her efforts in Brokeback Mountain, having already borne Ledger a daughter, Matilda Rose (Matilda? How Aussie is that?).
Next, as if to confound anyone confused by his convincing performance in Brokeback Mountain, he played the world's greatest seducer of women in Lasse Hallstrom's Casanova. This was a decadent farce, purposefully overblown and Ledger would hurl himself into his role. Having knocked off one woman too many in Venice, Casanova must mend his reputation by marrying a lady of good repute, but instead falls for swashbuckling feminist Sienna Miller who deeply disapproves of his bedtime activities. Thus Ledger must don various disguises to woo her away from her fiance, lard merchant Oliver Platt, while also avoiding the severe attentions of inquisitor Jeremy Irons.Ledger would now move between New York and Australia and would continue his artistic growth by pursuing interests in poetry (reading and writing it), photography, art and architecture. He also made it clear that he hoped to build a theatrical career. Thus far, life seems to have gone pretty much the way of this rare all-action aesthete. There's no reason why it shouldn't contuinue to do so.
Dominic Wills
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