An Australian man realized Heath Ledger is the biological father of the kid he is raising
StraightDrive
EXCLUSIVE by Gemma Jones in New York and Janet Fife-Yeomans in Perth
March 31, 2008 12:00am
HEATH Ledger's family believe the late actor may have fathered a secret love
child.
Ledger was a 17-year-old schoolboy when he had an affair with an older woman
who is thought to have only discovered she was pregnant after their
relationship ended.
The woman was living with another man at the time of the alleged affair.
Yesterday, Ledger's uncle, Hadyn Ledger said: "There is a very real
possibility that Heath was the father."
If it is confirmed that Ledger is the girl's biological father, it could
split his multi-million dollar estate between his two-year-old daughter
Matilda Rose with Hollywood actress Michelle Williams, and his secret love
child.
Ledger, who died alone in his New York apartment in January from an
accidental overdose of prescription drugs, drew up his will before the birth
of Matilda, on whom he doted.
The April 2003 will lists only $145,000 in assets and names the late actor's
father, Kim, mother Sally Bell, sister Kate Ledger and half sisters Olivia
Ledger and Ashleigh Bell as the only beneficiaries. The New York documents
also acknowledge Matilda Rose, as Ledger's only known child, as an
interested party.
Heath was still at school at Guildford Grammar when he began the affair with
the woman, then aged 25.
Yesterday another family source said: "She had the baby. Everyone lived
under the assumption that she was the daughter of the mother's boyfriend and
that is how she has been brought up." The woman is now married with a young
family.
Ledger's death has exposed the bitter rift in the family between father Kim
and his estranged brothers, Haydn, Mike and Wayne.
The family feud began when Kim became executor of their grandfather, Sir
Frank Ledger's estate over 20 years ago. He borrowed heavily against the $2
million estate, leaving it heavily in debt before he was removed as executor
by the WA Supreme Court in 1994.
Source: Daily Telegraph