Heath Ledger’s daughter to inherit estate

HEATH LEDGER’s 2-year-old daughter Matilda Rose will inherit all of her father’s estate, Ledger’s father says.

The Australian actor, who died from an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, signed a will before his daughter was born leaving everything to his parents and three sisters.

Some had speculated his former partner Michelle Williams would lodge a claim for the money.

But Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, now says the family had given all the money to Matilda and that there had been no challenge from Williams.

“There is no claim. Our family has gifted everything to Matilda,” said the star’s father.

The 28-year-old Ledger doted on Matilda, but was separated from Williams, who joined the Ledger family in Perth for a memorial and wake on Cottesloe Beach in February.

The actor signed the will on April 12, 2003. It lists assets and cash of just $118,000 (€67,000), but the full Ledger estate is believed to be worth more than $16.3 million (€9m).

Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson, an executor of the Ledger estate, said he could not reveal how much Matilda would inherit.

The Perth-born actor gained international stardom and was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a gay cowboy in the 2005 hit film Brokeback Mountain.

Critics have hailed his last performance as the deranged Joker in the recent Batman film sequel, The Dark Knight.