LEDGER WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK


Actor HEATH LEDGER decided to take a break from the movie world at the height of his popularity because he felt his work wasn't good enough for the attention he was getting.

Ledger, 26, was catapulted to Hollywood hunk status after the release of his 2001 movie A KNIGHT'S TALE, but he quickly decided to back away from the limelight in an attempt to alter his image.

He says, 'That time in my career was a funny one. Decisions were being made for me. Suddenly, without deserving it, I felt like I had a career handed to me on a big plate.

"I didn't know how to act. I was starving yesterday, and now I'm being prepped for something. I felt like I was becoming a product, like a bottle of Coca-Cola.

"I knew my work wasn't good enough yet to be seen on a mass level. I wanted to take it back a few steps. I made a real effort to destroy the glossy cover that I was getting put on."

As a part of his effort to rid himself of his image, Ledger took on a small role as BILLY BOB THORNTON's son in MONSTER'S BALL - particularly because the character killed himself.

He explains, "I wanted to do that to my career. I wanted to shoot myself in the head and start over. I felt like it was somehow going to help me have a rebirth."

07/12/2005 02:43