Michelle Williams continues to be a total class act. The actress has slowly been gaining personal strength in the months after the death of her ex, Heath Ledger, father of her 2-year-old daughter, Matilda. She’s back to work, walking the red carpet, and even dating again. But Williams clearly keeps a place in her heart for Ledger, and has become the first donor to a new scholarship fund Heath’s family founded in his honor.
A scholarship to help emerging Australian actors and honor the memory of Heath Ledger has launched – and Ledger’s ex, Michelle Williams, is stepping up as the first donor.
The Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship will award recipients up to $10,000, and round-trip airfare from Australia, to pursue a career in the United States. Ledger was an Ambassador for AIF before his death in January; current ambassadors include Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts.
“Broke Aussie actors in LA form a tradition that goes all the way back to Errol Flynn,” says Ned Kelly director and Ledger pal Gregor Jordan, who will be part of the scholarship’s five-member judging panel. “Heath was definitely part of that tradition and this scholarship is something he would have been proud to have his name associated with.”
The fund also has the support of Williams, who has pledged to contribute an undisclosed amount, and Ledger’s family.
“We as a family are pleased with the establishment and progress of the AIF scholarship award named in honor of our much loved and generous son, Heath,” said Ledger’s father, Kim. “As a result of this scholarship, a talented Australian actor will gain valuable assistance to support their personal goals, and an opportunity for recognition in the very tough US film industry.”
Plans for the scholarship were first announced in June at AIF’s 2008 Breakthrough Awards. The selected actor must be over 18 and be in the early stages of his or her career. Applications are available online and will be accepted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 28, with the first beneficiary to be announced by mid-February.
[From People]
I wonder who will be the next Australian actor who bursts onto the LA scene, thanks to this scholarship?
I agree, totally classy. But can she afford it? 😕
I wonder if she made the donation in their daughter’s name… regardless, I think it is a really wonderful gesture. I like Michelle Williams, you are spot-on CB: this woman has class.
Isn’t Mia W (Alice in the Mad Hatter from yesterday’s post) a beneficiary of this scholarship? How is she already selected if applications are not even accepted until Oct?
I remember her on Dawson’s..she keeps getting prettier. She’s so cute.
Love Michelle and wish her nothing but the best.It’s nice that she honors her daughter’s father name and roots,always keeping a low profile.Not only she is a great mom and actress but also has a wonderful heart.
Why wouldn’t she be able to afford it Kaiser? 😕 😐
She is a star in her own right & I’m sure she can more than afford it.
Michelle is a total class act. Heath’s death was a tragedy & it still kills me, I can’t imagine how she feels
She has grown up and looks lovely. She is a class act. I love seing her with Matilda, and I wish that Heath was still in Michelle’s and Matilda’s lives-not to mention our movie screens.
Michelle, you deserve an award for awesomeness.
For some reason she used to totally bug me when she was on Dawson’s Creek–even though I never watched it.
But I have to say seems to have grown up to be a very good actress, great at selecting roles and seems to be a wonderful, dedicated mother.
And I must say she has gotten to be gorgeous and her fashion sense is almost always spot-on.
Way to go Michelle. She skipped the many child (young) actor curses: horrible substance abuse, vanishing into obscuriting only to reappear on horrid reality shows…and the lesser known curse of becoming a prematurely aged robot…granted I only know of one case of that. (maybe she could raise Suri?)
Reading this reminds me how we have been deprived of such a talented thespian. I think the scholarship is a brilliant idea. Not sure if we will find anyone like that. But to help young talent find hone their craft is a good way to remember this young actor’s legacy. 🙁
how sad.
@Kristen – I was wondering if she could afford it because she usually only does independent, low-budget films with scale salaries, Heath’s will left his money to his father and sister, and Heath’s friends made a big deal about giving Michelle money.
I was just wondering…
Michelle has changed a lot since Heath’s death. Although she used to be grouchy, she seems a much better person lately.
Kaiser. 10k is not a lot. She can afford it. Johnny Depp and co gave the money to Matilda because it not only decent but also right and fitting. Not because they thought she was broke and could not afford tolook after her daughter. After all, even with those independent low budget movies she does, she still earns more than most of us.
I agree. Classy is the word. And it will be great for Mathilda to know when she grows up that her mother always worshipped her father’s memory.
It’s rather sad that his greedy father Kim, is still stealing from Matilda, and not contributing to a legacy for his son. What an absolute pig of a man to steal from his grand daughter. Hopefully he will never get to see her, since money’s his real motivator it shouldn’t bother him to much to be cut off. Heath must be so ashamed of his father.
she has always handled herself well. Her daughter is very fortunate to have someone who seems so well grounded to look up to.