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NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > EXPERTS PREDICT CAREER DEATH AS LEDGER SKIPS OSCAR TELECAST
EXPERTS PREDICT CAREER DEATH AS LEDGER SKIPS OSCAR TELECAST
February 22 2009
Hollywood, CA – With the momentum of a billion dollar box office take it seemed inevitable that Heath Ledger would be awarded the Academy Award for best supporting actor. The bravura performance by the young actor, as well as the enormous box office take of ‘The Dark Knight’, would have ensured Ledger’s place as a major box office star. Would have, had Ledger had shown up to accept the award.
The 30 year-old actor was awarded the Oscar at tonight’s telecast despite missing out on the majority of the awards season. Many predicted that after his failure to appear at other awards, specifically the SAG awards and the Golden Globes, would nullify the Australian actor’s chances at winning the big prize but that was not to be. Many though do not see as bright a future for the actor’s career after this latest failure to appear and are encouraging him to change his way.
“Ledger is a terrific actor but you can only shun people so much before they turn on you. Add to that the fact that he’s only got one movie on the horizon and you get the feeling that Ledger isn’t really all that interested in continuing in the movies, and after this he may not have much of a choice,” said
Scrape TV Entertainment analyst Tracey Temple. “Ledger has really done himself and his career a major disservice. This was the big show and if he wanted to continue to in this business he should have showed up.”
Ledger, who apparently faked his death over a year ago, has been rumoured to have been so immersed in the role of the Joker that he has been consumed in real life. Spottings of the actor have been rampant around Southern California still dressed in the Joker costume and make up.
“That dedication to the role is no doubt why he won the Oscar but he needs to tone it down now. We’re looking at nearly a year since the film was released and it’s garnered about all the success it’s going to so it’s time now to behave like a rational human being,”
continued Temple. “You have to wonder as well where the Oscar is going to end up. Arch criminals tend to not have mantelpieces or trophy cases, at least not in my experience. Someone’s is going to have to track him down and have a calm rational talk with him.”
Other famous examples of actors being consumed by their roles include Robert DeNiro in ‘Raging Bull’ and Tom Hanks in ‘Cast Away’, both of whom endured major weight changes to accommodate their characters. 
“There is something to be said for an actor to be so taken by his or her role that they actually take on the persona of the character, but generally that only lasts for the duration of the shoot. In ledger’s case it seems to have gone overboard and he has been totally consumed by the character of The Joker. My guess is that it’s unlikely he cares all that much about the state of his career. Should he come out of this he may have regrets,
but at the moment it does not seem as though he cares,” said Scrape TV Psychology analyst Dr. Sarah Welp. “His case is an interesting one because he is completely functional. Most patients suffering from severe psychosis are unable to function at even the most basic of levels which inevitably leads them to either prison or hospitalization. If it’s true that Ledger has intentions on becoming a master criminal then we will have seen an incredible example for study. Of course we will need someone to stop him and I haven’t heard of anyone on the opposite end of the spectrum yet.”
Christian Bale, who played Joker nemesis Batman in ‘The Dark Knight’, has reportedly expressed disinterest in actually becoming the masked hero, though many point to his recent rant on set as appositive sign of mental or emotional imbalance in the actor.
“Ledger and Bale were apparently quite close and people can rub off on one another. I have little doubt that if Ledger can establish a well articulated psychosis then Bale will be able to do the same,” continued Welp. “Of course that does no good for either actor’s career. Of course if Bale does indeed become Batman he will still be able to maintain his alter ego. Ledger as the villain doesn’t really have that choice, both because he’s the villain and because he’s more or less unemployable now.”
Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent
NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > EXPERTS PREDICT CAREER DEATH AS LEDGER SKIPS OSCAR TELECAST
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