Nolan Remembers Heath Ledger

Christopher Nolan, director of the successful Batman Begins film and upcoming The Dark Knight offers his memories of Heath as an actor. The small touches of what Heath did on set appear to have left an impression on Nolan. He writes:

"One time he and another actor were shooting a complex scene. We had two days to shoot it, and at the end of the first day, they'd really found something and Heath was worried that he might not have it if we stopped. He wanted to carry on and finish. It's tough to ask the crew to work late when we all know there's plenty of time to finish the next day. But everyone seemed to understand that Heath had something special and that we had to capture it before it disappeared. Months later, I learned that as Heath left the set that night, he quietly thanked each crew member for working late. Quietly. Not trying to make a point, just grateful for the chance to create that they'd given him."

The small things - the throway gestures made when no one is looking - say a lot about who we are, our character. It is good to read this about Heath. Albeit insignificant, it suggests that he was a decent man with kindness who cared for others - for his audience, his director, and the men and women on his set. He is sorely missed by many who knew him and only knew him through his wonderful stories.