Maggie Gyllenhaal says Heath Ledger was 'incredible' in 'The Dark Knight'
Meggie Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger portrayed Rachel and the Joker on Christopher Nolan’s hit 2008 film
Published June 29, 2026
Maggie Gyllenhaal will always look back fondly at her time sharing the screen with the late Heath Ledger on The Dark Knight.
In a newly-resurfaced clip from her March appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Gyllenhaal, 48, reflected on filming the blockbuster with Ledger, who passed away shortly before the film was released in 2008.
“The thing about The Dark Knight is, the scope was massive,” began Gyllenhaal, who portrayed Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend Rachel Dawes.
The Oscar-nominated actress noted that it’s “hard to act well in a huge movie,” given that many other things take precedence, including VFX and extras.
But, she noted, “Heath Ledger just took the space he needed, and was incredible in that movie.”
Ledger won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his role as the iconic Joker — largely regarded as one of the best portrayals of the Joker to date. However, he would not live to receive the award, as he tragically passed away before the movie even came out.
His cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose, and he was just 28 years old.
