'She is exactly like her dad': Heath Ledger's mother Sally and sister Kate reveal late actor's 10-year-old daughter Matilda Rose 'looks just like' her tragic father 

By Jo Scrimshire For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

It's been over eight years since the death of Heath Ledger, but his family see the late actor's face every day in his daughter Matilda Rose.

The Dark Knight star's parents and sister Kate told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that the 10-year-old girl bears a striking resemblance to her father.

Speaking at the AiF Heath Ledger Scholarship 2016 event at Primus Hotel in Sydney, Heath's mother Sally said: 'She’s such a reminder of her dad'.

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Legacy: Heath Ledger's mother Sally and sister Kate revealed at the Australians in Film event in Sydney on Wednesday that the late actor's 10-year-old daughter Matilda Rose bears a striking resemblance to her father

Legacy: Heath Ledger's mother Sally and sister Kate revealed at the Australians in Film event in Sydney on Wednesday that the late actor's 10-year-old daughter Matilda Rose bears a striking resemblance to her father

His father Kim, who hails from Perth, WA, also said of his granddaughter: 'Matilda is exactly like her dad, she looks just like him.'

Matilda currently lives in New York with her mother Michelle Williams, who was in a relationship with Heath between 2004 and 2007.

The former couple first met on set of Brokeback Mountain, in which she played his on-screen wife Alma, and welcomed their only child in October 2005.

Elsewhere, Kate claimed it has been 'hard' shuttling back and forth between New York to Perth to visit Matilda, adding: 'It’s a really long way away.'

Gone too soon: The Dark Knight star, from Perth, WA, died aged 28 in his New York apartment on 22 January 2008 of cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication

Gone too soon: The Dark Knight star, from Perth, WA, died aged 28 in his New York apartment on 22 January 2008 of cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication

Meanwhile, the finalists for the annual Heath Ledger Scholarship were announced this week - with the winner to be unveiled in in Los Angeles next month.

Heath Ledger died in his New York apartment on 22 January 2008 of cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication. He was 28 years old. 

He was found naked and unresponsive by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, a police spokesperson confirmed at the time.

Left behind: Heath is survived by his lookalike daughter Matilda (right) and former girlfriend Michelle Williams

Left behind: Heath is survived by his lookalike daughter Matilda (right) and former girlfriend Michelle Williams

In a statement, the late actor's family called his death 'very tragic, untimely and accidental.'

'Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him,' his father Kim added.

'He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual extremely inspirational to many.'

In happier times: Heath dated Michelle, 35, between 2004 and 2007 after meeting on the set of Brokeback Mountain, in which she played his on-screen wife

In happier times: Heath dated Michelle, 35, between 2004 and 2007 after meeting on the set of Brokeback Mountain, in which she played his on-screen wife

 

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