‘The Dark Knight’: Maggie Gyllenhaal Recalls First Time Seeing Heath Ledger Play The Joker

Netflix The Dark Knight Maggie Gyllenhaal Heath Ledger Joker DC Comics

During an interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Academy Award-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal remembered Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.

Ten years after The Dark Knight was released in theaters, Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning role as the Joker remains one of the most lauded performances in a comic book-based film. When asked about her favorite memory of working with the Heath Ledger on the DC film, Maggie Gyllenhaal recounted the first time she saw the late actor’s take on the iconic DC villain:

“I remember coming to work and seeing him – that scene where the Joker throws me off a roof – and seeing him come in and start to do what he was doing, which was the first time I saw it. I still think about this sometimes — it’s so hard to be good in a huge movie like that, that’s not about the acting, really. It’s so much easier to be good in a little tiny movie where it’s all about you.”

Maggie Gyllenhaal added that it’s possibly delivered a performance like Heath Ledger’s in a major Hollywood blockbuster:

“To be amazing like Heath was in a movie that’s got explosions and huge stunt scenes and big sets is a whole other thing. I don’t know if anyone’s ever, ever done that as well as he did in The Dark Knight.”

What do you think of Gyllenhaal’s comments? Share your opinion in the comments section below!

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (the late Heath Ledger in his Oscar-winning role) unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City.

To stop this devious new menace—Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront everything he believes.

Directed by Christopher Nolan from a script he co-wrote with Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman.

The Dark Knight is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital HD.

Source: Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (via People)

Sebastian Peris

Sebastian Peris

Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.