A never-before-seen photograph of Heath Ledger has been discovered, which shows the star as a teenager before he found fame as the award-winning actor fans knew and loved.
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Heath Ledger takes on the role of the Joker in The Dark Knight
The photo was shared by makeup artist Paula Jane, who worked with the late actor on a fast-food commercial in Perth, circa 1996.
In the snap, Heath, who would have been around 17-years-old at the time, is pictured posing with Paula, and also actor Michael Caton, on the set of the advert.
“I was spring cleaning my office and found this Polaroid from an old Chicken Treat commercial I did with Aussie acting legend Michael Caton and a very young Heath Ledger,” Paula shared on her Facebook, alongside the rare photo.
Heath was “always so sweet” Paula told 10Daily.
“I bumped into him years later at a store in Beverly Hills – he gave me a warm hug,” she told the publication.
Paula said she knew Heath was destined to make it in Hollywood.
“He had such passion in his eyes,” she said.
“He had that ‘it’ factor you can’t really explain.”
Heath ledger sadly passed away on January 22, 2008 due to a cardiac arrest brought on by accidental prescription drug intoxication. He was just 28 years old.
Fans and co-stars of the late star remembered him in April, on what would have been his 40th birthday.
Fellow actress Kate Bosworth was one of the first to post a heartfelt message, remembering her friend as a “sensitive, gentle, kind, wickedly funny..extraordinarily special” person.
“Doesn’t seem so long ago we were all running around LA, shotgunned into Hollywood + popping off the new millennium’s cork, having a laugh. It was a crazy time. I was literally straight out of high school, feeling young & super shy and he was always so sweet within a surreal scene.
“I really, really would have loved to have known Heath today, at 40. No limits on what he would have accomplished. Here is what I remember: he was sensitive, gentle, kind, wickedly funny. Extraordinarily special. Time goes by, his image still a teenage heartthrob. And his work. So brilliant + honest & he was just getting started.
“But to remember the Human. I was on the outer orbit. Imagine those close to the sun. Thinking of all the people who knew and loved him on this day. Man, you made one hell of a mark. xo”
The Ten Things I Hate About You actor was survived by his 13-year-old daughter Matilda who he shared with actress Michelle Williams.
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