Heath Ledger’s lookalike daughter Matilda spotted with mum Michelle Williams

The teenage daughter of Australian actor Heath Ledger has been spotted in New York, bearing an uncanny resemblance to her late father.

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams’ teen daughter Matilda has been spotted in a rare outing, bearing an uncanny resemblance to her late father.

Matilda Rose Ledger, who is now 18, was photographed with her US actress mother, 43, in New York, where they live.

The mother-daughter duo were enjoying a pamper session in Brooklyn, holding hands as they treated themselves to a manicure and pedicure at a local spa.

Michelle Williams treats herself and her daughter Matilda Ledger to mani-pedis in Brooklyn. Picture: Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages/Media Mode

Matilda, who was born in New York and has lived her life largely out of the spotlight, was just two when her Australian actor father tragically died in 2008 of an accidental overdose aged 28.

She is close to her mother, and is understood to maintain contact with Ledger’s family, who are based in Perth.

Rarely-seen Matilda looked the spitting image of her late father Heath Ledger, who passed away in 2008. Picture: Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages/Media Mode

Before his death, Ledger told InTouch in 2005 that becoming a father was “the most remarkable experience I’ve ever had.”

“Matilda is adorable, and beautifully observant and wise,” he told the publication at the time.

“Michelle and I love her so much. Becoming a father exceeds all my expectations. It’s the most remarkable experience I’ve ever had. It’s marvellous.”

Matilda turned 18 last October. Picture: Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages/Media Mode

Ledger was just 28 when he died.

Ledger and Williams split amicably in September 2007 after three years together, a few short months before the actor’s sudden death.

In the 2018 memoir This Will Only Hurt a Little, written by Williams’ best friend and Matilda’s godmother Busy Phillips, the actress shed some light on the couple’s breakup.

“They were so young and that baby was the light of both of their lives. They were just working all the time and it was complicated,” Phillips wrote.

“S**t is always complicated. Especially when you’re 28. And movie stars. With a baby.”

Matilda with dad Heath back in 2007. Picture: Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages/Media Mode

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams dated for three years after meeting on-set of 2005 film Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger was given a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his lauded portrayal of the Joker in director Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, The Dark Knight.

His parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell Ledger, and his sister Kate accepted the award onstage on his behalf.

“This award would’ve humbly validated Heath’s quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here, his peers, within an industry he so loved,” father Kim said at the time.

The Ledger family determined Matilda would gain full ownership of the statuette on her 18th birthday, which was in October, 2023.

Heath Ledger's family, mother Sally, father Kim and sister Kate with the trophy at the 81st Academy Awards. Picture: AFP/Mark Ralston

In 2018, Sally told Us Weekly the family were travelling to New York to visit Matilda.

“We’re going to see [Matilda] in New York next week. So we’ll be there a few days and see how she’s grown,” Sally said at the time.

“We keep in constant contact with Michelle and Matilda and visit frequently.”

In a will prepared two years before his death, Ledger left his $US16.3 million fortune to his parents and three siblings, who later determined Matilda would be the sole beneficiary.

Williams has gone on to welcome two more children, who were born in 2020 and late 2022, with her husband, US theatre director Thomas Kail.

Originally published as Heath Ledger’s lookalike daughter Matilda spotted with mum Michelle Williams