Back in 2006, nobody wanted Heath Ledger to play the Joker. How could some pretty boy from 10 Things I Hate About You bring the levels of malice required to portray one of the darkest characters in cinema? Well, despite the critics, Christopher Nolan cast him in The Dark Knight.
Even today, on the day he was born, his staggering performance still has people in awe.
A look inside the diary that Ledger kept while filming his Oscar-winning portrayal of the Joker is a poignant reminder of his dedication to the role.
Credit: Too Young to Die
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It's widely reported that the late actor's commitment to immersing himself in the Joker's dark psyche played a part in his tragic death in 2008.
The diary was shared by Heath's father, Kim Ledger, in a German documentary entitled Too Young To Die. The contents give us the best insight yet into what was going through Ledger's mind during the filming.
Credit: Too Young To Die
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The front cover in itself is a metaphor for the Joker - disarmingly childish and playful on the outside, but twisted within.
Credit: Too Young To Die
The journal reveals the wide array of manic muses Heath Ledger had for his performance, including hyenas, clowns, comic strips and Alex DeLearge from Stanley Kubrick's cult classic, A Clockwork Orange.
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While flicking through the diary, Kim confirmed that his son put himself into a self-imposed exile to really delve into the Joker's chilling psyche.
Credit: Too Young To Die
"He pretty well locked himself up in a hotel room for weeks. He galvanised the upcoming character. That was typical of Heath. He would do that. He liked to dive into his characters, but this time he really took it up a notch." Heath's father, Kim, said in the documentary.
Credit: Too Young To Die
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Ledger's career-defining portrayal of the Joker saw him receive a posthumous Oscar as well as a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award.
If movies were sports, Ledger's Joker shirt would be retired so no one else could ever play him. However, superheroes and villains are constantly recycled, so it didn't take long before Jared Leto's Joker in Suicide Squad. He had some awfully big clown shoes to fill.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: The Joker