Heath Ledger is a well-known iconic actor noted for his impassioned performances in films such as The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Casanova, and others. But he worked the hardest for the role of Joker in the film 'The Dark Night,' which was released on July 18, 2008.
For the first time in a Batman film, his portrayal as the Joker, a villain, generated a mysterious yet compelling picture. The involvement of the Joker was a pleasant surprise for the audience. His performance was wild as well as magnificent. The terror he instilled in everyone and in the film itself was more realistic than it could have ever been.
He was the first actor to win an Oscar for playing a villain. Though he left the world far too young, he is recognized as the greatest Joker of all time. Nobody could have predicted a narrative in which the Joker would resurface as a villain in a Batman sequel.
Heath Ledger is said to have asked to do his makeup to make it more realistic than professional. He stated in an interview that he had a lot of fun playing this character.
Heath Ledger's strategies for landing the role
The world is aware of the genuine tension he created throughout the film, but according to the documentary and interviews, he confined himself in a hotel room for six weeks. He wanted to give his all and present the most realistic version of the Joker possible by thoroughly adopting the character's actions, both physically and psychologically.
He tried everything he could to master this job, including adopting the Glasgow smile. In the 1920s, gangs would use broken glass or a knife to construct a wound by cutting from the corners of the mouth up to the ears, forming a broad smile to alert other gang members. One of the creepiest notions he had for his makeup tactics was the 'Glasgow smile' theory.
He created a journal and filled its pages with Joker's speech from his film, comic book clippings, and other mementos. He practiced the strange laugh depicted in the film multiple times to make it appear dangerous and crazy.
He came up with all of the most bizarre and terrifying ideas that could change history.
Everyone on the set knew Heath loved to skate, but what made it disturbing was that he liked to skate while dressed as the Joker. He never took off his makeup on set and kept everyone engaged with the character's dark humor.
Heath Ledger's passion and sacrifice for the Joker
The intensity with which he invested in this role is beyond comprehension. He gave everything he had for the finest possible outcome, but it cost him dearly. According to sources, he slept for only two hours and spent the rest of the time working on the character with zeal.
But this technique of acting affected his relationships as well. He became so engrossed that he lost count of time. Many claimed that his death was the result of psychological distress and the usage of narcotics to cope with the upheaval.
His death was caused by an accidental drug overdose, which many attributed to his role as a psychopath. However, the documentary dispelled these notions.
Heath Ledger's outlandish behavior astounded everyone on the set of The Dark Night. During an interview, he stated that he and Chris briefly discussed how this character should be depicted on screen and how their interpretations matched.
Conclusion
The character of Joker physically fatigued Ledger because it demanded a lot of energy and strength. He kept a journal with him at all times and trained more and more to get the better of this character.
Actors like Heath Ledger are known for their dedication and sacrifices for their roles. These people perform every bit like it's their last shot, and tend to give their hundred percent to every character.
Giving a Hundred percent to every shot takes a lot of determination and dedication. Actors usually go through a stressful fire-fighting schedule, and managing that with this kind of sacrifice may make them feel more and more stressed, and more and more depressed.
Life does not go easy on everyone and often takes up a hard call on people, therefore, emotional stress and trauma can be a part of life that keep occurring very often. But sometimes it becomes very difficult to fight against these situations and cope up with your emotional instability. This makes people feel that they are a loser and their sacrifices are not able to find a good worth. This loops with factors like self-doubt, bad influence, social judgments, professional stress, and whatnot.
Although Ledger passed away before the film was released, his depiction as a villain captured the hearts of millions. He was recognized by his fans, who showered their affection on his film. No one has ever played a Joker better than Heath Ledger. People remember him and his works because he lives on in everyone's hearts.