This Girl Lost Her Star Dad at Only Two — He Didn’t Include Her in His Will, So His Co-stars Gave Up Money for Her

His daughter was upset because she could not find her father after he passed away. But there were other things she would miss out on besides his presence. She was not named in the actor’s will. Three of the actor’s costars sacrificed their wages for her out of concern for her well-being.

In the superhero movie “The Dark Knight,” this well-known celebrity portrayed The Joker, a psychotic criminal mastermind with a perverted sense of humor. The actor has portrayed numerous additional characters, such as those in “Lords of Dogtown” and “I’m Not There.”

The actor, his wife and daughter leave Sydney International Airport for their New York home on January 14, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images

On January 14, 2006, in Sydney, Australia, the actor, his wife, and his daughter depart from Sydney International Airport for their New York residence. | Source: Getty Images

The actor met Michelle Williams in 2004 while “Brokeback Mountain” was being filmed, and the two fell in love. Matilda Rose, their baby girl, was ushered into the world a year later. Sadly, the couple split up in 2007, but the actor’s devotion to his kid never wavered.

The actor would put his daughter in his backpack, hop on the tube, and head to Terry Gilliam’s house to discuss a project they were working on, according to the director.

Michelle Williams and the actor during "Awake and Sing!" Opening Night - After Party at Marriott Marquis Ballroom in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Michelle Williams with the performer at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom’s Opening Night – After Party for “Awake and Sing!” in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Sadly, Matilda’s father passed away unexpectedly in 2008 at the age of two at his New York apartment. Due to her inability to comprehend her father’s abrupt absence, little Matilda would frequently ask her mother incomprehensible questions about him, which Michelle was unable to respond to. She was continuously asking:

“Where is my father?”

The Actor’s Costars Help His Daughter Out Financially

The actor was filming “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” just before he tragically his away. The movie tells the story of a traveling theater group whose leader offers his spectators the option of satisfying their own desires for enlightenment or satisfying their ignorance after placing a wager with the Devil.

Johnny Depp (L) and Jude Law attend 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on November 13, 2018 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

On November 13, 2018, in London, England, Johnny Depp (L) and Jude Law attend the UK premiere of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” at Cineworld Leicester Square. | Found via Getty Images

Terry Gilliam, the filmmaker, was unsure about whether to continue with the film or find a replacement after the star passed away. After some persuasion from his daughter, he ultimately chose the latter. He cast actors Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp to portray the remaining roles in the movie in lieu of Ledger. Gilliam stated:

“No one questioned if the role was appropriate for them or how much they would be paid. Since they were all friends of Heath’s, they all wanted the movie to be completed in his honor.

Irish actor Colin Farrell poses on the red carpet as he arrives to present the movie "Pride and Glory" on October 28, 2008, at Rome's Film Festival 2008 | Source: Getty Images

On October 28, 2008, at Rome’s Film Festival 2008, Irish actor Colin Farrell poses on the red carpet upon arriving to introduce the film “Pride and Glory.” | Source: Getty Images

Tom Cruise and other A-list celebrities offered to play Ledger, but Gilliam rejected them because they were unfamiliar with the actor.

The three actors were more anxious about his daughter than Gilliam was about whether it made economical sense to replace him.

The actor at the Various Locations in Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California | Source: Getty Images

The performer in Santa Barbara, California, in Various Locations | Source: Getty Images

The three performers gave Matilda their entire wage in a gesture of exceptional kindness, working for little pay and keeping none of it for themselves. The star’s two-year-old daughter was not named in his will, it would later come to light.

The Actor’s Millions Showdown

Long before his daughter was born, the celebrated actor Heath Ledger penned a will that left his estimated $118,000 wealth to his parents and three sisters. After the birth of his daughter, he never revised the will.

Actress Michelle Williams and daughter Matilda Rose, 2, return to their Boerum Hill home after learning of the death of actor Heath Ledger, Matilda's father, on January 23, 2008 in Brooklyn, New York. | Source: Getty Images

After learning of the death of Matilda’s father, actor Heath Ledger, on January 23, 2008 in Brooklyn, New York, actress Michelle Williams and her two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose, return to their Boerum Hill home. | Found via Getty Images

That would normally imply that his daughter was not entitled to any inheritance from her father. However, a year following the actor’s passing, everything drastically changed.

Actress Michelle Williams (R) and daughter Matilda Ledger walk to their Boerum Hill home in the borough of Brooklyn on October 30, 2009 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

On October 30, 2009, in New York City, actress Michelle Williams (right) and her daughter Matilda Ledger stroll to their Boerum Hill residence in the borough of Brooklyn. | Source: Getty Images

Kim Ledger, the actor’s father, stated to The Sunday Times that his family would not touch any of Ledger’s fortune; rather, they would donate it all to the actor’s daughter. According to Fox News, he stated:

“No claim is made. Matilda has received everything from our family.

Actress Michelle Williams and her daughter Matilda are seen on October 30, 2009 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. | Source: Getty Images

On October 30, 2009, actress Michelle Williams was spotted in the Brooklyn borough of New York City with her daughter Matilda. | Found via Getty Images

The choice caused friction between Kim and his brothers, two of whom asserted that because Ledger’s father had mismanaged their grandfather’s wealth in the past, he was not qualified to serve as the actor’s executor.

Kim was saved, nevertheless, by Robert John Collins, an Australian who served as Ledger’s executor, who dismissed Kim’s brothers’ false charges. The brothers argued as a result of the claims, and they have since remained distant.

Matilda’s Present Life: A Mirror Image of Her Deceased Father

When her father died, Matilda was just two years old; yet, fifteen years later, she is an adult. From the very rare images of the 17-year-old that are available online, it is clear how much she resembles her father. Her grandfather Kim, among other family members, commented on the striking similarities.

“She bears a great deal of his mannerisms.” She has a lot of curiosity. Heath has never slept since he was two, and Matilda is the same way, so she has his vitality.

Kim showered his granddaughter with praise, describing her as a bundle of fire who exuded the same aura as Ledger. Not only did Matilda acquire her father’s characteristics, but she also bore traits from her mother, who dedicates her life to preserving Ledger’s memories for his daughter.

The young child’s never-ending search to learn more about her dad’s life and character is what has remained constant about him.

Michelle Ledger has done an amazing job parenting Matilda on her own since her father passed away, and as the actor’s sister Kate Ledger would later tell People:

“I believe that she creates such a lovely atmosphere for Matilda to grow up in, particularly given the kind of industry she works in.”

Kate described Michelle as grounded and mentioned how much Matilda looked like her brother, who passed away. She revealed that she is reminded of her brother by everything Matilda does.

Simple actions carried out by Matilda on her own, such picking up a pencil and getting on a skateboard, were identical to those that Ledger would have undertaken.

In addition, she says People, “I tell her about her daddy every time we see each other,” in an effort to preserve her brother’s memories in his daughter. I narrate to her tiny tales about him as a child, including how he used to follow me around with a cricket bat.

Matilda maintains a low profile despite having famous parents; the few pictures of her that are accessible feature her with her mother in various public settings.

My Mom Left Me in a Cardboard Box in the Supermarket When I Was a Baby — 20 Years Later She Asked For My Help

Sue was left in a cardboard box as a small child. Luckily, a store clerk took her home and changed the course of her entire life. Now, in the form of an unexpected knock at the door, Sue has to face her past and the disappointment that comes with it. Is this a grand reunion or the biggest disappointment of Sue’s life?

I was left in a cardboard box in a supermarket twenty years ago. I was just a few months old, and all I had to my name were a few photos of my mother and a note.

A baby in a cardboard box | Source: Midjourney

A baby in a cardboard box | Source: Midjourney

The note read: I will always love you, Sue.

Nobody knew my surname or whether I had a middle name. Nobody seemed to know my mother or what had happened to my father. I was all alone in a world that didn’t know anything about me.

A folded piece of paper | Source: Midjourney

A folded piece of paper | Source: Midjourney

But even then, at a few months old, I seemed to be fortune’s fool. I was found by a kind store clerk, Ruby, who took me in.

“I couldn’t leave you there, Sue,” she would say whenever the story came up. “I became your guardian shortly after and raised you as my own. You became my little bug.”

Ruby was everything to me. And as I grew, the closer we became.

A smiling woman in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney

I was forever grateful that she gave me everything I needed. But still, I never stopped wondering why my mother left me and if she would ever come back.

“I know that it bothers you, darling,” Ruby told me one day as she made lasagna for dinner. “But she’s an enigma now. We have nothing that could lead us to her.”

A tray of lasagna on a board | Source: Unsplash

A tray of lasagna on a board | Source: Unsplash

“I know,” I said, grating more cheese for when the dish was ready. “It’s just frustrating when I start thinking about it.”

“You love the internet, you love social media, Sue. Use it, share your story, maybe it will resonate with people, and you can connect with others just like you.”

A person grating cheese | Source: Pexels

A person grating cheese | Source: Pexels

She opened the oven and put the tray of lasagna inside.

So I did just that, and I became a well-known video blogger, sharing my story with the world.

“You’ve created a safe platform for people to share their stories, too,” Ruby told me when I read comments from my latest video to her.

A young woman holding her phone | Source: Unsplash

A young woman holding her phone | Source: Unsplash

“It means something to me,” I said, helping myself to the eclairs on the table.

Fast forward to the present. I am successful and able to provide for myself and my guardian.

“So much for being an abandoned baby,” I said to myself as I washed my face one night.

A woman washing her face | Source: Pexels

A woman washing her face | Source: Pexels

But imagine my surprise when an unexpected knock on my door changed everything.

I opened the door to find a frail, older woman standing there, her eyes filled with regret and desperation.

“Sue, darling,” she said. “I am your mother, and I need your help!”

A person opening a door | Source: Pexels

A person opening a door | Source: Pexels

I just looked at her, unable to blink for fear of missing the moment.

“Do you still have the note I left with you when I left you safely in the store?”

Safely? I thought to myself. I stood there, paralyzed by the flood of emotions that had come in when she entered my home.

A sad woman holding her face | Source: Pexels

A sad woman holding her face | Source: Pexels

“Yes, I have it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I kept it.”

“I know I have no right to ask for your help after what I did, but I need you to believe me when I say I had no choice back then. I was running from a dangerous situation. And I thought leaving you in a safe place was the only way to protect you. I needed to disappear.”

A person wearing boots | Source: Unsplash

A person wearing boots | Source: Unsplash

“What kind of situation?” I asked.

I had wondered about this moment for years. And every second that went by, I was just disappointed by the reunion with my birth mother.

She hesitated, looking down at her hands.

A person holding their hands together | Source: Unsplash

A person holding their hands together | Source: Unsplash

“There were people after me, people who wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted. I stole something once, just to help me out financially. I stole the wrong thing from the wrong people. I had to keep you safe. So I left you.”

Of course, my mother was shady.

Two people dressed in black | Source: Pexels

Two people dressed in black | Source: Pexels

“You could have come back sooner. You could have tried to find me.”

“I know, but I was scared.”

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything.

“What do you need help with?”

A woman with her eyes closed | Source: Unsplash

A woman with her eyes closed | Source: Unsplash

She looked up, her eyes pleading.

“I need a place to stay, just for a little while, until I can get back on my feet. I have nowhere else to go.”

My heart ached. But I knew that Ruby would want me to say yes. She would tell me to do it. I could almost hear her words in my head.

A smiling older woman | Source: Pexels

A smiling older woman | Source: Pexels

“That’s your birth mother, Sue. Help her,” Ruby would say, most likely bribing me with something to eat.

“Okay,” I said finally. “You can stay. But this doesn’t mean everything is forgiven. We have a lot to talk about.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

A crying woman | Source: Pexels

A crying woman | Source: Pexels

“Thank you. I promise, I’ll make things right.”

She reached down, picked up a worn duffel bag, and followed me in.

The first few days went by relatively smoothly. My mother seemed genuinely remorseful and tried to help around the house.

A worn duffel bag on the floor | Source: Midjourney

A worn duffel bag on the floor | Source: Midjourney

“I’ll cook and I’ll clean for you, darling,” she said.

But it didn’t last long.

One evening, I came home earlier from the local radio studio where I was being interviewed for my content. The house was unusually quiet.

A person holding cleaning supplies | Source: Pexels

A person holding cleaning supplies | Source: Pexels

Walking to my bedroom, I heard the faint sound of drawers opening and closing.

And there she was, standing there in front of my open jewelry box, my most precious pieces clutched in her hands.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, unable to contain my rage, but also wanting to keep calm at the same time.

An open jewelry box | Source: Midjourney

An open jewelry box | Source: Midjourney

She looked up, startled, and for a moment, I saw a flash of guilt in her eyes.

“I was just… I thought maybe I could sell some of these to help me out. They’re heavy, so they’re real.”

“Of course, they’re real! They’re gifts from my mother! She saved up for years just so that she could get that diamond necklace for my 18th birthday. And you want to steal from me?”

A diamond necklace | Source: Unsplash

A diamond necklace | Source: Unsplash

She looked shocked, like the wind had been knocked from her sails.

“You have so much, darling,” she said, almost whimpering. “I just thought that you wouldn’t miss a few pieces. We could use the money.”

“We? This isn’t about us; it’s about you. And it’s not about money, either. It’s about trust. You said that you wanted to make things right, but all you’ve shown me is that I cannot trust you.”

A woman holding her head | Source: Unsplash

A woman holding her head | Source: Unsplash

She reached out to me, but I stepped back.

“Please, don’t do this, Sue. I can change. I just need some time.”

I shook my head, tears of betrayal and disappointment filling my eyes.

A close-up of a crying woman | Source: Pexels

A close-up of a crying woman | Source: Pexels

“I gave you a chance. I let you into my home. I let you meet Ruby. And you still chose to betray me. No, I’m sorry. But you need to leave.”

Her face crumpled, and she pulled a tissue from my vanity.

“Please, just one more chance,” she said.

“I can’t,” I said, my voice breaking. “You need to go.”

A box of tissues | Source: Midjourney

A box of tissues | Source: Midjourney

“Sue, I gave birth to you,” she said, putting the necklace down.

“And you left me in a box,” I said.

I watched as she gathered her things and left, the duffel bag looking considerably fuller than when she arrived. But I didn’t have it in me to fight her again.

A full duffel bag | Source: Midjourney

A full duffel bag | Source: Midjourney

Sadness and disappointment weighed me down heavily. But there was also a sense of relief.

Later, I went over to Ruby’s house. It was the one place that would always feel like home to me.

“Darling girl,” she said, flipping grilled cheese onto a plate. “You took a chance on someone who loved you, that’s what you take away from this experience.”

Grilled cheese on a plate | Source: Midjourney

Grilled cheese on a plate | Source: Midjourney

I smiled at her. At the woman who had taken me home in a heartbeat and had loved me ever since.

But now, I worry that I’ve just sent my birth mother back into the world she had been trying to escape from.

A worried woman with her head on a table | Source: Pexels

A worried woman with her head on a table | Source: Pexels

Was I right in my decision?

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