Heath Ledger’s rarely seen daughter Matilda, 18, spotted out with mom Michelle Williams in NYC
Michelle Williams enjoyed a stroll with her daughter, Matilda Ledger, in New York City on Wednesday.
The Oscar nominee, 43, was pictured holding hands with the 18-year-old while rocking a colorful shift dress and sunglasses.
Meanwhile, Ledger rocked black Adidas sneakers, white pants with a red stripe going down the sides and a vintage Cassius Clay T-shirt.
They later did some mother-daughter bonding by getting manicures and pedicures.
Matilda was only 2 years old when her father, Australian actor Heath Ledger, died in 2008 at the age of 28.
An autopsy concluded that the “Dark Knight” star accidentally died “as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine”.
He and Williams met when they acted opposite of each other in the 2005 film “Brokeback Mountain.” When Matilda was 2, the couple split after three years together and Ledger died a few months later.
“The Fabelmans” star shared in 2009 that Matilda stays in contact with her late father’s friends and family.
“[Matilda] can know her dad in so many ways, and so many of his friends who will be able to tell her so many stories,” she told Vogue. “His friends, his family — they were a big part of his life, and they will be a big part of her life.”
In 2022, Williams revealed that “Succession” star Jeremy Strong moved in with her and Matilda after Ledger’s death.
“Jeremy was serious enough to hold the weight of a child’s broken heart and sensitive enough to understand how to approach her through play and games and silliness,” she told Variety.
“[Matilda] didn’t grow up with her father, but she grew up with her Jeremy and we were changed by his ability to play as though his life depended upon it, because hers did.”
Matilda is also close to Ledger’s family, who made the decision to leave the actor’s entire estate to her.
“Our family has gifted everything to Matilda,” Ledger’s father Kim told People. “That was the plan from the moment my boy passed away. There was never any question about the fact that Heath’s estate would go to Matilda. Never a question. We are very close to Michelle and Matilda.”
In January 2020, Williams thanked her daughter during her acceptance speech at the SAG Awards.
“Matilda, it’s one thing to be completely honest as an actor — it’s another thing to be completely honest as a human being,” she said. “And that’s just who you are and how you live, and you teach me just by being you. I love you and I’m coming home.”
While filming “Fosse/Verdon,” Williams met “Hamilton” director Thomas Kail and the two married in 2020. They share two children — son Hart, 4, and another child whose name and sex they have yet to reveal, born in 2022.
