One of the most heartbreaking celebrity deaths will always be Heath Ledger. The actor passed away in 2008, but his legacy continued not just with his impressive body of work, but also with his daughter, Matilda. Heath welcomed Matilda in 2005 with his ex-partner Michelle Williams, and she has kept a VERY low profile, but in recent photos, she looks just like her dad's twin.
Mailda was spotted in New York on August 28th ahead of the holiday weekend, shopping around the city. In the snaps, Matilda rocked a Y2K-inspired knee-length denim skirt with a black belt and tank top, adding a pop of color with red flats.
Whoever spotted her made it a point to follow her around all day because they snapped her in 3 different variations of her outfit. She was also spotted riding around on a Citi Bike in a blue and white striped sweater.
She was later spotted walking down the street with a rolling suitcase and a grey sweater. So she may have had an exciting weekend away from the city. It's reportedly the first time she's been photographed in 10 months.
Matilda was only 2 years old when her father passed away after an accidental overdose of prescription medications on January 22, 2008. Now all grown up, she will celebrate her 20th birthday on October 28th.
Matilda's life after her dad's death
Little is known about Matilda, but she's had the support of her father's fans and friends. Johnny Depp, for example, donated his entire fee for his film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which he starred in alongside Heath. Colin Farrell and Jude Law also pledged that any profits generated would go to Matilda.
In 2009, Michelle told Vogue that Matilda stayed in contact with Heath'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 the outlet. “His friends, his family — they were a big part of his life, and they will be a big part of her life.”
She also inherited "everything" in his estate. Heath's dad, 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.”
There are fan pages dedicated to the young woman, but she seems to appreciate her privacy and doesn't have any public pages.
While Matilda was only 2, her father's death came with a media storm that she and her mom, Michelle, had to deal with. The barrage of paparazzi almost made Michelle quit acting and leave Brooklyn. She told Elle in 2017, "We were trying to deal with grief, and that can't be dealt with publicly."
Michelle said she always wanted her daughter to have a normal life. "If you feel like people are watching you, it's impossible to have an authentic experience of being alive," Williams continued.
"There's a performative aspect and a guardedness, and that's just death. I don't know how to live like that, and I don't know how to give life to my child like that." She eventually moved into a small house in rural upstate New York for five years.
The award-winning actress went on to marry Phil Everum in 2018, but they split in 2019. She then found love with “Hamilton” director Thomas Kail, and they married in 2020 and share three children.