Matilda Ledger may be the daughter of two actors, Australian star Heath and Michelle Williams, but she grew up on a farm away from the limelight.
Heath’s only child, 17, has been seldom seen over the years as her mother, Dawson’s Creek star Michelle, 42, wanted to “keep things real” for her daughter to grow up.
The student was recently spotted in New York, with Matilda now bearing a striking resemblance to her late father, who tragically died in 2008.
Childhood: Matilda Ledger may be the daughter of two actors, Australian star Heath and Michelle Williams, but she grew up on a farm away from the limelight
The ‘Dark Knight’ actor died at the age of 28 after taking a deadly drug cocktail, leaving behind his then two-year-old daughter Matilda.
Michelle, who was in a relationship with Heath from 2004 to 2007 after meeting on Brokeback Mountain in 2005, decided to keep Matilda out of the spotlight.
Grew up on a farmhouse
Blue Valentine star Michelle took a break from the limelight and moved to upstate New York with Matilda following Heath’s tragic death.
Michelle raised her daughter away from the hustle and bustle of downtown when they moved into a farmhouse in the country for six years.
Tragic: The Dark Knight actor died at the age of 28 after ingesting a deadly drug cocktail and is survived by his then two-year-old daughter Matilda
Moving away: Michelle, who was in a relationship with Heath from 2004 to 2007 after meeting on Brokeback Mountain in 2005, decided to pull Matilda out of the spotlight
She previously said the move stemmed from her desire to provide “a healthy home environment” for her daughter.
She told the New York Post in June 2016, “We moved — we left Brooklyn and lived in the country for six years because it was an unbearable state.”
Years later, Michelle made the decision to return to the city and bought property in Brooklyn, where she had lived before moving.
Prior to their time in the country, Michelle and Heath previously shared a $3.6 million townhouse in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.
Heath said of Brooklyn in 2006, “I like everything about Brooklyn. I adore it.’
Stability: Heath’s only child, 17, has been rarely seen over the years as her mother, Dawson’s Creek star Michelle, 42, wanted to “keep things real” for her daughter to grow up
“keeping things real”
Despite her own background as an actress, Michelle is said to have been determined to “keep things real” for Matilda throughout her childhood.
In 2015, when Matilda was 10, Heath’s sister Kate Ledger told The Sunday Telegraph that her existence was “as normal as can be”.
“Her existence, while unlike most, is as normal as can be in an abnormal world,” she told the publication.
Her relationship with Heath’s family
After Heath’s death, his family made sure to keep in touch with his only daughter, as well as his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Michelle.
In 2018, Heath’s mom, Sally, told Us Weekly. “We will see [Matilda] next week in New York. So we’ll be there for a few days and see how it’s grown.
“We are in constant contact with Michelle and Matilda and visit them frequently.”
Heath’s sister Kate also spoke about her relationship with Matida, saying: “I love to tell stories [Matilda] Stories about her father and how he grew up. I think it’s so important for her to have a good sense of where she’s from so she can get to know herself.”
Close: After Heath’s death, his family made sure they stayed connected with his only daughter, as well as his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Michelle (Kate pictured with Heath).
Stay away from social media
Heath’s father Kim Ledger previously spoke to the Sun-Herald about Michelle and Matilda, describing the former as “very private”.
Both Michelle and Matilda are very secretive about their lives and neither of them have a social media presence.
Michelle tied the knot with theater director Thomas Kail in 2020 after previously being married to Phil Elverum for a year in 2018-2019.
Michelle and Thomas welcomed their son Hart in 2020 and just a few months ago another baby.
find balance in life
Earlier this month, Michelle also spoke about finding a “balance” between filming movies and juggling motherhood as she shared an insight into raising Matilda and her other two children.
She told Entertainment Weekly that kids “need to arrive, and they need to be supported, all of it.”
Loved up: Michelle tied the knot with theater director Thomas Kail in 2020 and they welcomed their son Hart in 2020 and just a few months ago another baby
“So I’m constantly searching, because balance isn’t a stable place. Balance means you’re always adapting,” she said.
“So you have to find out because we have to stay in the workforce, even if it often feels like it’s unsustainable. My heart obviously belongs to my children; they tug at it the most. But I really want to be able to have both.”
She also noted that “having kids is really awesome” to keep her from taking her work home, especially when she’s playing heartbreaking roles.
She said: “I’m not going to take anything home and pollute my children’s experience. I think finally I can remember that it’s not my life, it’s not my pain or sadness. It’s something that moves through me and then goes out of me.’
Balance: This month Michelle spoke about finding a ‘balance’ between filming movies and juggling motherhood as she shared an insight into raising Matilda and her other two children
inherit her father’s fortune
Matilda has inherited her father’s entire $16.3 million estate.
In 2003, Heath signed a will bequeathing his fortune to his parents and sisters, two years before his daughter Matilda was born.
After his death, there was speculation as to whether Michelle would lay claim to Matilda as the sole beneficiary.
Ultimately, however, this was not necessary as Heath’s family gave the entire estate to Heath’s only daughter.
Harmonious relationship with her mother
It has been reported that Michelle and Matilda have a very close relationship.
A few years ago, Michelle claimed Matilda hadn’t even hit teenage tantrums, and they were still close.
She said: Matilda has not yet reached those awful teenage years and appears to have skipped them altogether. Every morning we wake up and I wait to see if the transformation has happened and if it has turned into the next level that I keep hearing about, but we’re not there yet.
family life now
Michelle, who is now married to theater director Thomas Kail, previously spoke of wanting to give Matilda siblings in a 2012 interview with GQ.
She said: “I really wanted, and I really expected or imagined, that Matilda would have siblings around her own age. I wanted this for her. But I couldn’t bring that about.’
“And now that she’s 6, that’s not even possible anymore. Something that was making me impatient has been removed. Whatever the reason, this isn’t our luck or our way.”
Eight years later, however, the actress found her happy ending with Thomas and the couple died tying the knot in 2020.
They had a baby boy later that year, and a second child together in 2022.
Love: Michelle, who is now married to theater director Thomas Kail, previously spoke of wanting to give Matilda siblings in an interview with GQ in 2012