Australian actor Heath Ledger admits he is daunted by the prospect of wearing out the red carpet for three Hollywood premieres at this year's Venice Film Festival.

The movie heart-throb, who flew into Venice from New York, stars in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm and Lasse Hallestrom's Casanova.

"It's a little overwhelming," says Ledger, who began his first promotional commitment of the festival with press for Brokeback Mountain.

"At this point I have to shut out the other two films just to get me through, otherwise I'd be panicking.

"It's very exciting on one hand and on the other anxiety is kicking in and I'm getting a little nervous."

In Lee's movie, Ledger plays an American ranch-hand who struggles with his homosexuality after falling in love with a rodeo cowboy, played by US actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Perth-born actor says he harboured "a few reservations" about the role which sees him and Gyllenhaal locked in plenty of on-screen kisses as well as a passionate sex scene.

However, he decided to tackle it as a straight-forward love story.

"It's a story of pure love and how love transcends all types of people, at all times and in all environments," he says.

Love certainly blossomed in the rural environment of the Canadian film set and Ledger hooked up with his on-screen wife, Dawson's Creek actress, Michelle Williams.

The couple, who are engaged to marry, are expecting their first child.

"It's the most exciting time of my life," Ledger grins.

Brokeback Mountain's sure to cause a stir when it is released in
Australia early next year but the 26-year-old actor is no stranger to controversy recently making headlines for reportedly lashing out at celebrities who accept lucrative advertising deals.

Ledger, however, claims he was misquoted.

He says although he would not endorse products he would shy away
from passing judgment on stars who do.

"Someone asked me if I want to sell a suit and I said 'No, I'm not interested in whoring myself' and that got written up as 'Heath Ledger speaks out against stars whoring themselves'.

"I could not care less what others do."

In the meantime, Ledger is hoping his exhausting Venice schedule will leave him some downtime to check out some of his favourite spots in the city.

"I love Venice," he said.

"I worked here for over five months on Casanova so it's going to be wonderful to retrace my old footsteps and say 'hi' to waiters and stuff."

The 62nd Venice International Film Festival runs until September 10.



Source: AAP