'Heath lives on in Matilda'
2008-02-04 21:09
Los Angeles - Heath Ledger's ex-lover Michelle Williams has spoken out about how he will live on through their two-year-old daughter, Matilda.
Michelle, 27, met Heath on the set of Brokeback Mountain.
"Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken," she said.
"I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day.
"His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time, and we know that he is with us still.
"She will be brought up in the best memories of him."
Hollywood stars
He is expected to be buried in his hometown of Perth, in Western Australia.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were among a host of Hollywood stars that gathered to remember the actor on Saturday.
The couple joined Heath's father Kim to pay tribute to the tragic 28-year-old star - who was found dead in his New York apartment on January 22 - at a memorial ceremony held at California's Sony Lot, in Culver City.
Other mourners included Heath's Casanova co-star Sienna Miller, TV chat show host Ellen DeGeneres and Shannyn Sossamon, who starred with Heath in A Knight's Tale.
A number of industry luminaries, as well as those connected to Heath's talent agency CAA, also attended.
The service reportedly featured several speeches, including one by filmmaker Todd Haynes, who directed Heath in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There.
Last week, Heath's relatives and close friends, including his ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts, remembered the actor with a smaller service in Los Angeles. - Bang Showbiz
- Bang