Movie News

Watts sheds tears during Ledger tribute

Mon 18 Feb 11:20 AM

Naomi Watts couldn't fight back the tears during a tribute to former boyfriend Heath Ledger at a film festival in Australia on Sunday.

Watts, one of the judges at the annual Tropfest Festival in Sydney, began to cry when video montage of Ledger's career was played.

The King Kong actress dated Ledger for two years after they met on the set of Ned Kelly in 2002.

Watts presented the inaugural Balance Water Women in Film Award, but made no comment about Ledger and ignored reporters on her way to the event. Her compatriot Geoffrey Rush, however, did mention the Brokeback Mountain star as he presented an award.

"He is one of our brothers, he is one of our clan and I had the great fortune to work with him on two films and knew him a little bit socially," Rush said.

"We are going to miss him."

Tropfest founder and creative director John Polson also told the crowd: "The Australian film industry lost someone very, very special a few weeks ago. I didn't know Heath Ledger very well, but I did meet him a few times.

"Everything you have read about his tragic death is true ... He was an enormously talented actor, really just beginning to realise his potential. His death is an incredible loss and we at Tropfest send our deepest sympathy to his family."