Heath told to beef up for gay role

Hollywood star Heath Ledger has been ordered to work out for his newest role as a gay cowboy.

It’s a first for the Australian actor. Although he’s appeared in a number of physically demanding roles, this is the only time he’s been told to work on his physique for the upcoming Brokeback Mountain.

The 24-year-old says: "Oddly enough, it's the one job that I've been asked to build on and kind of work out. You'd think you would kind of build up and work out to play a superhero or something, but it ends up being for a gay cowboy story."

A Knight's Tale star Ledger was encouraged to take the role opposite Jake Gyllenhall in the Ang Lee movie by girlfriend Naomi Watts.