Heath Ledger's Death "Left a Hole" in His Daughter's Life But Mom Michelle Williams Helped Her Heal | She Lost Him at 2

Oscar-winning actor Heath Ledger started out as an Australian actor at the beginning. He was part of many Australian productions before moving to New York to begin his career in Hollywood. During the short span of his life, he was part of many notable projects. Apart from portraying the iconic role as Joker in The Dark Knight, he was also part of Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You, among others. However, in his personal life, Ledger used to gush about his daughter, Matilda, and fiance, Michelle Williams.

The couple welcomed Matilda in 2005, per PEOPLE. "Matilda's just a beautiful kid," the proud father told PEOPLE. After her birth, Ledger was a hands-on father that fully embraced his fatherly duties. He said his life comprised of making breakfast and lunch, cleaning up, going to the market to get fresh vegetables and fruits, making dinner, and cleaning up. 

They also celebrated festivities together. For Matilda's first Christmas, the couple decided to stay in snowy New York to show their daughter her first white Christmas. Ledger had planned to take her to Australia later on and spend as much time as possible at the ocean. 

Williams and Ledger loved being parents. The actor even said that becoming a father was the best thing that ever happened to him. He appreciated how wise and observant Matilda was as a baby, per PEOPLE.

When Matilda was two years old, Ledger died from an accidental drug overdose in January 2008, per Reuters. At the time, he and Williams had been separated for only five months. On their third anniversary, Williams admitted that she struggled to get over the loss of Ledger because his death took a toll on her and her daughter's life.

Ledger was remembered as a doting father to his two-year-old daughter, and his absence would forever leave a hole in her life. 

After grieving for a long time, both Williams and her daughter saw brighter days. Williams recalled one day as Matilda smiled and waved at her when she rode off, Williams realized her hard work and perseverance had paid off because she and her daughter were finally leading happy lives, per TODAY.

For Matilda's 17th birthday, fans shared Ledger's pictures with his daughter as the duo walked in the streets of New York, along with heartwarming images of Ledger bonding with Matilda as a baby. As Matilda gets older, she is not only resembling her father physically, but she has also inherited his mannerism and hobbies. 

Matilda has learned to play chess just like her father. Close sources said Ledger was obsessed with chess and even won a championship when he was 10. Now Matilda is said to be getting good at chess too, and it's more special because she uses Ledger's old chess board. The actor was also reportedly planning to direct and act in a feature film about a chess legend in the adaptation of Walter Tevis's book The Queen's Gambit. 

Matilda is also full of energy just like her father, revealed Ledger's father, Kim. He remembered, “Heath never slept from when he was two, and Matilda's like that. 'I mean, she's just got this ball of energy and radiates this little aura. Heath was kind of like that. She has also inherited her father's facial features and his wavy hair," per Now To Love.

She is a 17-year-old now and she and her mother have stood beside each other through the ups and downs of life. 

References:

https://people.com/parents/heath_ledger_ta/

https://people.com/parents/tribute-to-cele/

https://www.today.com/parents/michelle-williams-reveals-lovely-gift-her-daughter-matilda-gave-her-t111751

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ledger-idUSN0627874720080206

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/heath-ledger-daughter-28304

Cover Image Source: (L) Getty Images | Sean Gallup; (R) Getty Images | John Sciulli