Nancy Krulik - Heath Ledger. The Heath Is On!

He's been lauded as one of the best breakout stars of 2000 and likened to such Aussie hunks as Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe. But Heath Ledger is just warming up! With new hit movies like A Knight's Tale and Four Feathers, this talented hottie continues to sizzle. But the actor's easy charm and incredible good looks are only the beginning of his story, of course. Did you know:

• Heath was named after Heathcliff, the male protagonist of the novel Wuthering Heights?
• Heath set a course for Sydney with only sixty-nine cents to his name?
• Heath is an avid amateur photographer, and keeps journals of poetry?
  

In The Heath Is On! you'll read all about this, as well as Heath's family life, friendships, hobbies, goals, and moreeven his zodiac sign and best love matches! This cutie from Down Under is totally tops!

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AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK Original

An Archway Paperback published by POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Visit us on the World Wide Web:
http://www.SimonSays.com

Copyright 2001 by Nancy Krulik

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN-10: 0-7434-2777-7

ISBN-13: 978-0-7434-2777-7

AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Introduction:
Ten Things We Love About Heath!

W hat is it about Heath Ledger that makes you want to ROAR? Is it his sexy Australian accent? How about his perfectly sculpted bod? Maybe you just fancy a guy who remains totally laid back and modest, despite stealing The Patriot spotlight from film legend Mel Gibson, starring in the huge summer 2001 release A Knight's Tale, and appearing on the covers of countless magazines.

The truth is, there are lots of reasons to love Heath Ledger. These are only the top ten.

In 2000, Heath found himself being photographed for People magazine's annual Sexiest Man issue. He was included in a section that showed the most gorgeous Australian blokes of stage and screen, sharing the honor with fellow countrymen Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe. But of all the Australian hotties, it was Heath who seemed to be the most easily identifiable as a honey from Down Underespecially since he's the one with the thickest native accent. As People so aptly put it, Despite putting on an American accent for The Patriot [Heath] has the thickest Aussie accent aroundeven thicker than a pint of Foster's beer.

Heath's not exactly your traditional matinee idol. His hair's not perfect, his nose hasn't been chiseled down by some Hollywood plastic surgeon, and he's been known to have a blemish now and again. But there isn't a person alive who can deny that Heath Ledger really is drop-dead gorgeous. As Shekhar Kapur, Heath's director in the upcoming film Four Feathers puts it, He's sexy not traditionally handsome, but there is something there in those eyes of his.... You can see that Heath's a person who understands a bit more about lifeand has thought a bit more about it than just being a kid with an interesting face.

Some say Heath's charisma comes from his genuine smile, others say it's his laughing eyes that almost close to a squint when he grins. But whatever it is that makes Heath Ledger gorgeous, it certainly registers on camera. As Brian Helgeland, the writer and director of A Knight's Tale, told Vanity Fair magazine, When Heath smiles, it's Errol Flynn. Once every fifty years a guy like that comes along. For his age, Heath has an incredible manliness about him.

It takes a man with a lot of muscles to carry a heavy suit of armor around all dayand Heath was definitely up to the task when he played William in A Knight's Tale . But Heath hasn't earned that bodacious bod hanging out in the gym; he's built his muscles the old-fashioned wayoutdoors, playing sports. In high school, Heath was a major sportsman, focusing his talents on field hockey (it's a huge guys' sport in the land Down Under!). Heath also loves to run, and had worked himself up to a good hour and a half a day at one point. But lately, with his busy schedule, he's had to settle for some quick crunches and chin-ups when he needs to stay in shape.

When Heath's acting, he puts his own vanity aside and does what he has to do to physically become the character he's portraying, whether that means dying his hair dark and letting it grow long like he did to play Patrick in Ten Things I Hate About You, or sporting a threecornered hat for his role as a Revolutionary War hero in The Patriot. But in real life, Heath has a unique sense of style that's fun, sexy, and totally himself. When he's on his own with friends, Heath says he's most comfortable just putting on a pair of blue jeans. But don't be fooled when he needs to put his best foot forward, Heath cleans up really well! At the premiere of The Patriot, Heath sported Gucci sandals with his brown Henry Duarte suit. It was a fashion risk for sure, but the open-toed shoes were totally comfortable, so Heath went for it. The result was a look that made Heath happyand even pleased the notoriously cranky E! fashion police, who declared, We'd join this suave soldier's revolution anytime!

(Note to the E! fashionistas: Get in line there are about a million girls out there who are ahead of you!)

Heath's never really had to struggle to succeed in the film business. In 1995, at age 16, he graduated from high school and took a drive across his home country of Australia to try his luck at stardom in Sydney. Less than one year later he'd scored a lead role on the Australian TV show Sweat, and was on his way to a huge career. Now here it is only six years later, and Heath finds himself sharing the screen with the likes of Mel Gibson in The Patriot and Hollywood It Girl Kate Hudson in Four Feathers . Heath seems to take it all in stride, remaining the unpretentious funny man from Down Under he's always been.