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Heath Ledger passed away on January 22. Sit back and watch the movie marathon on this day to truly celebrate one of Hollywood’s most talented actors.

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For fans of Heath Ledger and cinema, January 22 is a dark day, marking the death anniversary of the legendary actor.

It was on this day that the world woke up to the news that the Oscar-winning stalwart was no more, having tragically passed away from an accidental overdose at the tender age of just 28. It was, without doubt, a life cut too short and too soon, leaving a gaping hole from one of cinema’s greats.

What better way is there than to honor the life and the cinema that Heath has given the world in his 28 years to commemorate this terrible day?

While everyone tends to talk about that iconic Joker performance in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight — and my personal favourite, Heath’s brooding bad boy turned epitome of the softcore romantic hero, Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You — there’s actually a catalogue of little-known films the actor starred in that are worth a watch.

So on this day, to truly celebrate the life of one of Hollywood’s most talented actors, get cosy on your couch and settle in, as you get ready to binge watch some hidden gems that make for the perfect Heath Ledger Movie Marathon.

Two Hands

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Gregor Jordan as the director

Cast: Tom Long, Bryan Brown, Rose Byrne, David Field, and Heath Ledger.

Jimmy (Heath Ledger), a 19-year-old strip club promoter, is just scraping by in Sydney’s red-light district, according to the official plot summary. Jimmy jumps at the chance to deliver a pricey package when local crime lord Pando (Bryan Brown) offers him a chance to work for his syndicate. However, when a few children jacked Jimmy, he becomes a debtor to the dangerous gangster for $10,000. He feces to rob a bank to save himself and the gorgeous girl he wants to save (Rose Byrne) from a horrifying demise by rusing out of time.

This hidden Australian gem was absolutely adored by audiences, according to one fan, who wrote, “This was probably the best movie I’ve ever seen Ledger in.” What I thought was a fantastic movie was made possible by Bryan Brown’s excellent soundtrack, funny split personalities, and the endearing ending.

A Knight’s Tale

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Director: Brian Helgeland

Cast: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany

According to the film’s title, “Peasant-born William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) sets out to change his stars, win the heart of an incredibly noble maiden (Shanynn Sossamon), and transform his medieval world. He tries to determine whether he has the potential to become a legend with the help of friends (Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, and Alan Tudyk) as they attempt the most valiant act of medieval gallantry: the tournament jousting.

A Knight’s Tale is a vintage gem, according to one critic, who praised the little-known period drama.

Monster’s Ball

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Marc Forster, the director

Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Boyle, Heath Ledger, and others.

An embittered racist prison guard on the death row, Leticia, a Black woman and wife of a man sentenced to death, forms an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Hank, according to the official Monster’s Ball storyline. Hank oversees Leticia’s husband’s execution, which is when the affair starts.

With positive reviews from both the film’s lead cast and critics, Monster’s Ball was a huge hit for director Marc Forster and the audience. There is enough Heath Ledger in this film to keep you completely captivated, despite not being the lead actor. Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton give incredible performances, too.

With their best performances ever and a plot that will make you cry, a film fan says, “Oh my, you’d be hard pressed to leave this movie outside of your best ten dramas, Berry, Ledger, and freaking Billy Bob.”

Candy

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Director: Neil Armfield

Cast includes Tony Martin, Geoffrey Rush, Abbie Cornish, Heath Ledger, and Abbie Cornish.

A fatherly chemistry professor (Geoffrey Rush) indulges two young lovers (Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish) in their ever-increasing heroin habit, according to the movie’s plot summary. A harrowing downward spiral of drug dependency and failed attempts to get clean eventually lead to the pairing of an artist named Candy and a poet named Dan.

Candy, a hard-hitting romantic drama that may not seem all that appealing at first glance, has many intricate layers that are enjoyable to watch. One critic’s glowing review reads, “Those with the stomach for searing drama will recognize superior writing, direction, and acting in one of the year’s most heartbreaking movies.”

Casanova

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Lasse Hallström, the director

Cast includes Oliver Platt, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, and Heath Ledger.

A notorious womanizer discovers a beauty who appears impervious to his charms, according to the official plot of the movie: “With a reputation for seducing members of the opposite sex, regardless of their marital status. He finds himself falling in love with the indifferent woman as he pursues her.

Everyone’s guilty pleasure is Heath Ledger in Casanova. A sensual yet lighthearted watch that perfectly combines that endearing smile, boyish charm, and dreamy eyes, making it a perfect match for a rom-com fix. Casanova is the ideal cinematic one-night stand: charming, romantic, and incredibly easy on the eyes, according to one critic who was critical of the movie.

I’m not there, I’m.

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Todd Haynes as the director

Cast: Richard Gere, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, and Heath Ledger.

The plot summary for this Boy Dylan biopic states that “many actors portray legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan at various points in his personal and professional life. A guitar-strumming youngster (Marcus Carl Franklin) rides the rails and calls himself “Guthrie” in 1959. In New York’s Greenwich Village, a man named Jack (Christian Bale) appears, followed by Robbie (Heath Ledger), Jade (Cate Blanchett), and other figures.

The Beckham family feud has gone from bad to worse in just a couple of days – and insiders have no clue how Victoria and David will build bridges with their son Brooklyn

All it took were six pages posted to an Instagram story to tip Brand Beckham on its head. After months of speculation about the cause of a rift between Brooklyn Beckham, 26, and the rest of his family, the first-born child of Victoria and David Beckham decided to take matters into his own hands and put forward his side of the story.

Since then, shocking claims have continued to emerge from both sides – and it’s showing no signs of slowing down just yet. The internet exploded with memes and jokes at the expense of Victoria Beckham, 51, after Brooklyn claimed she “danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone.” Sources alleged this included “grinding” and “nuzzling” her eldest, prompting Nicola Peltz, 31, to flee her own wedding reception in tears.

He also claimed that his parents only care about being picture perfect in public, and that they tried to “bribe” him to sign the rights to his name away. Letting rip, Brooklyn said he was “standing up for myself for the first time in my life,” with the shock statement, and hit back at claims his wife “controls” him.

Sources say there is now “hurt” on both sides, and the path to reconciliation will be a tricky one. “I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled,” Brooklyn wrote, “I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life. For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.”

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“My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else,” he wrote in the blistering statement. “Brand Beckham comes first. Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.”

Indeed, Brooklyn was a mere baby when he was thrust into the spotlight. From joining his parents in their wedding photoshoots at just six months old to carefully coordinated outfits and cuddly red carpet appearances – Brooklyn was a core part of the brand.

An inside source tells the Mail that after reading their son’s statement, both Victoria and David are feeling “quite an element of guilt” over the way they enthusiastically shared their son with the world, not realising he would find it so damaging.

“This is a statement that has caused David and Victoria a lot of hurt but it also shows that Brooklyn is hurting, too,” the source is reported as saying. “It’s a huge mess – who knows where this will end?”

For Brooklyn, he says that for the first time in his life he doesn’t feel anxious, and attributes that to removing himself from his family. Communications expert and PR to the stars, Mayah Riaz, says that being been part of the family branding as a child has likely given him a mixed-up sense of who he actually is.

“The conversation around monetising Brooklyn from a young age is complicated,” the expert says. “Children raised in famous families often don’t realise where the brand ends and where they begin. That can absolutely affect identity and autonomy later in life.”

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“When fame is normalised from birth, it becomes harder for a young person to develop a sense of self that exists separately from public expectation,” Mayah explains. “However, participation does not automatically equal exploitation, especially when it’s framed as family rather than commerce.”

Dr Jane Halsall, a chartered counselling psychologist, believes that Brooklyn’s outburst is part of a bigger move to regain some control over his life. “Speaking publicly after prolonged privacy is often not impulsive, but a last-resort boundary,” she tells the Mirror.

“Estrangement frequently emerges when repeated attempts at private repair fail, particularly where power imbalances, loyalty conflicts, or emotional coercion are present. Public disclosure may be a way of reclaiming agency when private channels no longer feel safe or effective.”

Addressing the money issue, Brooklyn claimed that just weeks before his wedding, “my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.”

“They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated,” he said. “My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since,”

It has been reported that currently Victoria holds the trademark to her eldest son’s name – and that it is due to expire this year. But sources close to the Beckham camp have disputed Brooklyn’s version of events, explaining that Sir David was selling over half of his company DB Ventures to Authentic Brands Group for £200 million – and these new partners would “have some rights over their surname”.

When Mark Junior, the character’s nephew, returns to the soap this month, 36 years after his uncle, played by actor Todd Carty, made his comeback, Mark Junior will be treated to a treat for EastEnders fans.

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EastEnders legend, Mark Fowler, is one of the soap’s most iconic characters. Played by Todd Carty, 62, the son of Pauline and Martin Fowler was involved in some of Albert Square’s most hard-hitting headlines.

Todd made his debut on EastEnders in 1990 before leaving in 2003 when Mark, who had been diagnosed with HIV, rode off into the sunset on his motorbike. Tragically, a year later, the character succumbed to an AIDS-related form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Mark Fowler Junior, the character’s nephew, is set to rock in scenes fans can’t wait to see in Walford more than 20 years later. What has the OG Martin, however, become? Here’s a look at our review from joining a soap rival to sensationally leaving a reality TV show after just two episodes.

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Todd Carty joins a soap company rival

Todd left EastEnders in 2003 and continued to appear on ITV’s The Bill from 2003 to 2005. He also appeared on programs like Holby City and Heartbeat.

In 2007, the actor swapped Walford for Selly Oak and made his directing debut on Doctors. After much preparation, Todd shot three episodes which aired on the 9th, 10th and 11th July.

He praised the work, saying, “I really enjoyed my directorial debut on Doctors and couldn’t have done it without a fantastic production team and of course everyone in the cast and crew.”

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cameo from Grange Hill

In 2003, Todd reprised the role of Tucker Jenkins in Grange Hill, as the uncle of one of the pupils, Patrick ‘Togger’ Johnson.

He appeared for just one episode, but he was brought back once again to film the epic school drama’s final series, broadcast in 2008 – a one-off special episode to celebrate the 30th birthday of the long-running BBC show.

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Disaster caused by Dancing on Ice

Away from acting, Todd ventured into the world of reality television. His iconic participation in Dancing on Ice in 2009 remains a standout moment, marked by an unforgettable stumble on the ice that left partner Susie Lipanova gobsmacked.

Despite his terrible scores, Todd was able to advance to the next round thanks to the public vote, which was hailed as one of the funniest television moments ever. In the fifth round, he was finally expelled.

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Suddenly quits reality TV show

Todd made his reality TV debut with the Celebrity 5 Go Caravanning cast, and he did so once more. He was scheduled to travel the country with the famous faces in 2018 after he duped Sherrie Hewson, who he had previously worked with on Sonia and Corrie.

After just two episodes, he abruptly stopped, according to a source who told the Metro, “Todd left his companions to continue their adventure after filming two episodes, and he decided that caravanning was not for him.”

Todd was replaced on the show by former Coronation Street actor Brian Capron, who played the ITV soap’s notorious serial killer.

With a Tom Sellick-style moustache, barely recognisable.

Todd, a sax legend, was barely recognizable when he donned a moustache at Manchester’s The Lowry Theatre in 2024.

The actor was seen running errands close to The Lowry Theatre in the city where he was playing in Agatha Christie’s Moustrap when he was touring.

Todd wore a NY Yankees baseball cap, dark jeans, and fantastic facial hair, making the audience look far away from his roles in The Bill and Eastenders.

After judging bakes alongside Paul Hollywood for almost a decade, Dame Prue Leith has announced she has left The Great British Bake Off.

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Dame Prue Leith decided to make a “selfish” decision after admitting that she “doesn’t have much time left”. It came less than a year before the 86-year-old decided to quit The Great British Bake Off after nine years as a judge.

Prue made the announcement on social media, expressing her gratitude for having “so many more things” to do. Prue stated in a statement from April last year that she wanted to “use her current circumstances to spend more time enjoying life.”

She said she wanted to spend more time travelling and with her family. She shared children Danny Kruger and Li-Da Kruger with her first husband, Rayne, who died in 2002. She has five grandchildren.

She told Vanessa Feltz about Vanessa that she wanted to live life to the full because she was 85 and had no time to waste.

What has really changed in the last few years is my desire to spend more time with my grandchildren and other really selfish things like that.

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“I enjoy writing, and it’s always because I enjoy it, whereas most of what I do is because I enjoy it.” I’m not a martyr, but I just thought I would do the things I would never be able to do if I didn’t right away.

“This year, for the first time, I had a holiday during the summer, because for eight years I’ve been filming Bake Off all summer so I said to them, the producers, ‘I think I better stop because I need a summer holiday, I want to go and visit Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan’.”

Close friend Lady Caroline Waldegrave replaced Prue with a step back from the celebrity edition of the show. The best vacation I’ve ever had was in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, according to Prue.

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In a statement on Instagram on Wednesday, Prue, who joined Bake Off as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood in 2016, confirmed she was leaving the show. During her time there she has worked with current presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond as well as previous hosts Sandi Toksvig and Matt Lucas.

She said: “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4 .

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“But it seems appropriate to take a step back now (for goodness sake, I’m 86)!” I’d like to do a lot of things, not the least of which is spend my summers admiring my garden.

Whoever joins the team, she added, is certain to adore it just as much as I do. I consider myself very fortunate to have participated in it.

Victoria Beckham recently discussed the pressure she has been subjected to throughout her career.

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Lady Victoria Beckham last year opened up about the unrelenting pressure she endured over her weight and looks. The celebrated fashion designer remembered a pivotal moment when she was asked to step on scales on television merely six months after giving birth to her eldest son, Brooklyn, and the lasting impact it had.

Talking in her Netflix series, which premiered in October 2025, the 51-year-old said: “‘Get on those scales’ on television. ‘Have you lost the weight?’ You know, we laugh about it and we joke about it when we’re on television. But I was really, really young, and that hurts.

You lose all sense of reality because I let it affect me and really started to doubt myself and not like myself. Simply put, I’m very critical of myself. What I saw wasn’t what I liked.

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“I’ve been everything from skinny posh to pork posh posh.” It’s been a lot, and that’s difficult. What was being written about me or the pictures being taken was not my control. And I suppose I intended to control that.

According to Surrey Live, she also added at the time: “I could control it with the clothing. I could control my weight and I was controlling it in an incredibly unhealthy way … it really affects you when you’re being told constantly you’re not good enough.”

In her early years, her musical career with the Spice Girls, and her preparations for a significant fashion show at Paris Fashion Week, Lady Victoria’s most recent three-part Netflix documentary, “Victoria Beckham,” explores her early years.

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Her husband, Sir David Beckham, shared her sentiments, noting that it was frequently accepted to criticize women for their appearance in the 1990s and 2000s.

There were many things happening in television that won’t happen now, that can’t happen right now, according to Sir David in the episode where: “People felt it was okay to criticize a woman for her weight, for what she’s doing, for what she’s wearing, for what she’s wearing.”

He later explained how this had an impact on their lives and said, “My Victoria that I knew sits at home in a tracksuit, smiling, laughing, and having a glass of wine that started to go purely because she was being criticized.

On October 9, 2025, Victoria Beckham aired on Netflix.

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A lipreader claims to have decoded Victoria Beckham’s private comments about Nicola Peltz’s daughter-in-law and has analyzed footage from David Beckham’s documentary premiere.

At the start of David Beckham’s documentary series Beckham, an lip-reading expert discovered what appears to be a heated exchange between members of the Beckham clan.

After Brooklyn Beckham made shocking claims about his family on Instagram Stories this Monday, video from the star-studded event has been re-released online and is being scrutinized once more.

Forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling worked with Covers.com to examine video clips from the red-carpet bash that took place in London in October 2023. Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, the parents of David, 50, and Victoria, 51, were present.

Brooklyn appears to be having a quiet conversation with Romeo in the video, and Nicola claims he mouths, “I hated it.

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The lip-reading expert speculates that his comment is related to what just transpired, suggesting that Brooklyn may have felt awkward while holding his parents’ hands in the air earlier, which might have contributed to the 26-year-old’s previous gesture toward David, who appeared to pull away and recoil. Brooklyn appears to say, “She’s in tears,” just a few seconds later.

Given where Brooklyn is looking and how he glances at his spouse, Nicola Peltz Beckham, the expert interprets this as a reference to his wife, reports the Express.

Despite making an effort to appear healthy, Brooklyn’s eyes appear so heavy, according to Nicola. Something went wrong before they arrived at the premiere, according to the statement.

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As Cruz and Harper approach a photo wall, Victoria appears to sternly warn them, saying, “I need you to tell them, they can’t do that, and if they do, it’s over for them.”

Victoria, according to her, “sees straight past Brooklyn and Nicola as they approach the wall.”

The former Spice Girl’s assistant was also partially concealing her mouth when a lip reader read, “What a nightmare!” She appears to be referring to Nicola and Brooklyn at this point.

Brooklyn’s allegations have not been addressed in full by Victoria or David.