Tearful Naomi Watts paid a poignant tribute to her tragic former lover Heath Ledger last night in her first public appearance since the actor’s untimely death last month.
The Hollywood actress was emotional during a special tribute to Ledger at Tropfest in The Domain.
The ‘Eastern Promises’ star put on a brave face to play judge and presenter at the annual festival - but lost her composure when the video tribute to Ledger was aired, according to Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The tribute, put together by film director John Polson, featured clips from all of Ledger’s movies - including Brokeback Mountain and Candy and showed him presenting an award at Tropfest while music played in the background.
“The Australian film industry lost someone very special a few weeks ago. He was gentle and had a humble spirit. We send our deepest regrets to his family. He’s an incredible loss,” Polson said last night.
Naomi, 39, who had earlier flown into Sydney with her baby son Alexander - canceled her appearances at the Sundance Film Festival after hearing of Ledger’s death. She had dated Ledger for two years after they met on set of the 2003 film Ned Kelly - which also starred Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush.
Watts was last night joined on the red carpet by fellow celebrity judges Geoffrey Rush, director Gillian Armstrong, Love My Way’s Claudia Karvan, Jindabyne director Ray Lawrence and festival creator Polson.
“He is one of our brothers, he is one of our clan,” Rush said of Ledger.
“We are going to miss him.”
The Hollywood actress was emotional during a special tribute to Ledger at Tropfest in The Domain.
The ‘Eastern Promises’ star put on a brave face to play judge and presenter at the annual festival - but lost her composure when the video tribute to Ledger was aired, according to Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The tribute, put together by film director John Polson, featured clips from all of Ledger’s movies - including Brokeback Mountain and Candy and showed him presenting an award at Tropfest while music played in the background.
“The Australian film industry lost someone very special a few weeks ago. He was gentle and had a humble spirit. We send our deepest regrets to his family. He’s an incredible loss,” Polson said last night.
Naomi, 39, who had earlier flown into Sydney with her baby son Alexander - canceled her appearances at the Sundance Film Festival after hearing of Ledger’s death. She had dated Ledger for two years after they met on set of the 2003 film Ned Kelly - which also starred Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush.
Watts was last night joined on the red carpet by fellow celebrity judges Geoffrey Rush, director Gillian Armstrong, Love My Way’s Claudia Karvan, Jindabyne director Ray Lawrence and festival creator Polson.
“He is one of our brothers, he is one of our clan,” Rush said of Ledger.
“We are going to miss him.”
