Academy Award Winners 2009 : Slumdog Millionaire Sweeps Oscar Awards

The following is a list of nominees and winners as they are announced at the 81st annual Academy Awards.


Best picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Director
WINNER: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

Actor
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
WINNER: Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Actress
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
WINNER: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Supporting actor
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
WINNER: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Supporting actress
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
WINNER: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

Animated feature
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
WINNER: "WALL-E"

Adapted screenplay
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," screenplay by Eric Roth, screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
"Doubt," written by John Patrick Shanley
"Frost/Nixon," screenplay by Peter Morgan
"The Reader," screenplay by David Hare
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
"Frozen River," written by Courtney Hunt
"Happy-Go-Lucky," written by Mike Leigh
"In Bruges," written by Martin McDonagh
WINNER: "Milk," written by Dustin Lance Black
"WALL-E," screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Art direction
"Changeling," James J. Murakami; set decoration: Gary Fettis
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Donald Graham Burt; set decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
"The Dark Knight," Nathan Crowley; set decoration: Peter Lando
"The Duchess," Michael Carlin; set decoration: Rebecca Alleway
"Revolutionary Road," Kristi Zea; set decoration: Debra Schutt

Cinematography
"Changeling," Tom Stern
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Claudio Miranda
"The Dark Knight," Wally Pfister
"The Reader," Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," Anthony Dod Mantle

Costume design
"Australia," Catherine Martin
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Jacqueline West
WINNER: "The Duchess," Michael O'Connor
"Milk," Danny Glicker
"Revolutionary Road," Albert Wolsky

Documentary feature
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"The Garden"
WINNER: "Man on Wire"
"Trouble the Water"

Documentary short
"The Conscience of Nhem En"
"The Final Inch"
WINNER: "Smile Pinki"
"The Witness -- From the Balcony of Room 306"

Film editing
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
"The Dark Knight," Lee Smith
"Frost/Nixon," Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
"Milk," Elliot Graham
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," Chris Dickens

Foreign language film
"The Baader Meinhof Complex," Germany
"The Class," France
WINNER: "Departures," Japan
"Revanche," Austria
"Waltz with Bashir," Israel

Makeup
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Greg Cannom
"The Dark Knight," John Caglione Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army," Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Original score
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Alexandre Desplat
"Defiance," James Newton Howard
"Milk," Danny Elfman
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman
"WALL-E," Thomas Newman

Original song
"Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, lyrics by Peter Gabriel
WINNER: "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Gulzar
"O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire," music and lyrics by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Animated short
WINNER: "La Maison en Petits Cubes"
"Lavatory -- Lovestory"
"Oktapodi"
"Presto"
"This Way Up"

Live-action short
"Auf der Strecke (On the Line)"
"Manon on the Asphalt"
"New Boy"
"The Pig"
WINNER: "Spielzeugland"

Sound editing
WINNER: "The Dark Knight," Richard King
"Iron Man," Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
"Slumdog Millionaire," Glenn Freemantle and Tom Sayers
"WALL-E," Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
"Wanted," Wylie Stateman

Sound mixing
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
"The Dark Knight," Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
"WALL-E," Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
"Wanted," Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Visual effects
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
"The Dark Knight," Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
"Iron Man," John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

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Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards 2009 Winners List

The 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards take place on January 25, 2009 in a live telecast on TNT and TBS at 8pm ET. See a complete list of nominees, winners, photos and video here.The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, also known as the SAG Awards, are given out for outstanding performances in 2008 in five film and eight primetime television categories and for the SAG honors for film and television stunt ensembles.

Presenters at this year’s awards include Katie Holmes, Christina Applegate, Taye Diggs, Jon Hamm, John Krasinski, Amy Poehler, Anthony Hopkins, Susan Sarandon, Angela Bassett, Jon Hamm, John Krasinski, Eric McCormack, Kyra Sedgwick, William Shatner and Ernest Borgnine

As with the Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA) and the Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA), the SAG Awards are selected solely by peers in the profession; fellow members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Votes come from two randomly selected panels, for film and television respectively, with each panel comprised of 2,100 SAG members in the U.S. Winners of these awards are sometimes predictors of Academy Award winners and thus closely watched.



The actress with the most nominations is Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for three awards; Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and the Outstanding Performance by a Cast for the movie. She also received a Outstanding Performance by a Cast for the TV series ‘Boston Legal.’ The actress is gaining much notoriety and acclaim, including a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination for ‘Benjamin Button.’

The late Heath Ledger was nominated posthumously for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his brilliant performance as The Joker in ‘The Dark Knight.’ He was favored to win, and did win, with fellow cast member Gary Oldman accepting the award on his behalf. He is also the winner of the Golden Globe and has received an Oscar nod.



Other notable nominees include Viola Davis for her supporting role in ‘Doubt’ (she also received the Best Supporting Oscar nod) and Meryl Streep for her leading role in the same movie. Streep went on to win the award and Davis lost to Kate Winslet (for her performance in ‘The Reader.’Legendary actor James Earl Jones received the SAG Life Achievement Award, with Forest Whitaker as the presenter. The award is given annually to recognize “outstanding achievement in fostering the finest ideals of the acting profession.” SAG’s National Honors and Tributes Committee is responsible for nomination and voting of the winner.





2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards winners are updated below.

Screen Actors Guild Awards 45th Annual Life Achievement Award
* James Earl Jones - WINNER

Theatrical Motion Picture Awards

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
* Sean Penn, Milk - WINNER
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
* Meryl Streep, Doubt - WINNER
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
*Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight - WINNER
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Kate Winslet, The Reader - WINNER

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Doubt
Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep
Frost/Nixon
Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Frank Langella, Matthew MacFadyen, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, Michael Sheen
Milk
Josh Brolin, Joseph Cross, James Franco, Victor Garber, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Denis O’Hare, Sean Penn, Alison Pill
* Slumdog Millionaire - WINNER
Rubina Ali, Tanay Hemant Chheda, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar, Madhur Mittal, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Cate Blanchett, Jason Flemyng, Jared Harris, Taraji P. Henson, Elias Koteas, Julia Ormond, Brad Pitt, Phyllis Somerville, Tilda Swinton

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
* The Dark Knight - WINNER
Wanted

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
* Paul Giamatti, John Adams - WINNER
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laura Dern, Recount
*Laura Linney, John Adams - WINNER
Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
* Hugh Laurie, House - WINNER
William Shatner, Boston Legal
James Spader, Boston Legal

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
* Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters - WINNER
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
* Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock - WINNER
Steve Carell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
* Tina Fey, 30 Rock - WINNER
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Tracey Ullman, Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boston Legal
Candice Bergen, Saffron Burrows, Christian Clemenson, Taraji P. Henson, John Larroquette, William Shatner, James Spader, Tara Summers, Gary Anthony Williams
Dexter
Preston Bailey, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Valerie Cruz, Kristin Dattilo, Michael C. Hall, Desmond Harrington, C.S. Lee, Jason Manuel Olazabal, David Ramsay, James Remar, Christina Robinson, Jimmy Smits, Lauren Velez, David Zayas
House
Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Peter Jacobson, Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Kal Penn, Jesse Spencer, Olivia Wilde
* Mad Men - WINNER
Bryan Batt, Alison Brie, Michael Gladis, Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Mark Moses, Elisabeth Moss, John Slattery, Rich Sommer, Aaron Staton
The Closer
G.W. Bailey, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Tony Denison, Robert Gossett, Philip P. Keene, Gina Ravera, Corey Reynolds, Kyra Sedgwick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Tenney

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
* 30 Rock - WINNER
Scott Adsit, Alec Baldwin, Katrina Bowden, Tina Fey, Judah Friedlander, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Tracy Morgan, Keith Powell
Desperate Housewives
Kendall Applegate, Andrea Bowen, Charlie Carver, Max Carver, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Marcia Cross, Dana Delany, James Denton, Lyndsy Fonesca, Rachel Fox, Teri Hatcher, Zane Huett, Felicity Huffman, Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman, Joy Lauren, Eva Longoria-Parker, Kyle MacLachlan, Neal McDonough, Joshua Moore, Shawn Pyfrom, Doug Savant, Nicollette Sheridan, Brenda Strong
Entourage
Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Adrian Greiner, Rex Lee, Jeremy Piven, Perrey Reeves
The Office
Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton, Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, Kate Flannery, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, John Krasinski, Paul Lieberstein, B.J. Novak, Oscar Nunez, Craig Robinson, Phyllis Smith, Rainn Wilson
Weeds
Demian Bichir, Julie Bowen. Enrique Castillo, Guillermo Diaz, Alexander Gould, Allie Grant, Justin Kirk, Hemky Madera, Andy Milder, Kevin Nealon, Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Elizabeth Perkins, Jack Stehlin

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Friday Night Lights
* Heroes - WINNER
Prison Break
The Closer
The Unit

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Sally Hawkins, Mickey Rourke Among Winners at Golden Globes Awards 2009

On a night when no one expected anyone other than Heath Ledger to win a posthumous Golden Globe, the ceremony managed to come up with a few surprise winners.In a deeply emotional moment in an otherwise lighthearted ceremony, Ledger’s win, for his role as the Joker in the Batman film “The Dark Knight,” reminded Hollywood what it had lost — a terrific young actor who had yet to fullfill his potential.

The announcement of Ledger’s name by presenter Demi Moore was met with a standing ovation by the crowd, followed by “Dark Knight” director Christpher Nolan’s short but moving speech.“I accept this with an awful mixture of sadness and intense pride,” said Nolan, adding that Ledgers’ death a year ago at age 28 meant “a hole had been ripped in the future of cinema.”

If the Golden Globes are indeed a portent for Academy Awards nominations, then the night’s biggest winner has to be Kate Winslet, who won two awards — after losing out five previous times. Winslet was the first winner of the night, for her supporting role as a Nazi guard in “The Reader.”Near the end of the ceremony, Winslet was an emotional, happy wreck when she was named best actress for her harrowing role as an unhappy 1950’s housewife in “Revolutionary Road” (directed by her husband, Sam Mendes).

The sentimental winner of the evning was Mickey Rourke, who took a next big step on his unlikely comeback trail by winning best actor in a drama for his role as a down-and-out former pro in “The Wrestler.”“It’s been a very long road back for me,” said Rourke to a cheering crowd.The same could be said of Woody Allen, who ended a creative slump when his Spain-set “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” was named best picture in the musical or comedy category. Allen, who never attended the Osacrs in his prime, was predictably absent last night, too.

The underdog ended up a top dog when “Slumdog Millionaire,” about a young Indian man’s hard-scrabble life, was named best picture in the drama category.On the TV front, Tina Fey continued to enjoy the best year of her creative life. “30 Rock,” which she created and stars on as the harried producer of a “Saturday Night Live”-like show, won for best comedy series.

But Fey — who took home several Emmys last year for the show, co-starred in the hit comedy “Baby Mama” and practically single-handedly revived “SNL” with her impersonation of presidential nominee Sarah Palin — was forced to take a back seat to the antics of “30 Rock” co-star Tracy Morgan, who hogged the mic with a pseudo-drunken speech.Fey got her moment in the spotlight a few minutes later —- she won for best actress in a comedy series, and with the stage to herself delivered a hilarious rant against her detractors on the Internet.

The speech was in stark contrast to another of the night’s big winners. Actress Sally Hawkins may have stayed at the podium a bit too long, but her teary, emotional acceptance was genuine. The little-known London actress received a tremendous career boost after winning best actress in a musical or comedy for her role as an eternally optimistic schoolteacher in the British film “Happy-Go-Lucky.” Among Hawkins’ fairly formidable competition: Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand and Emma Thompson.

Paul Giametti finally got a small measure of retribution for his Oscar snub four years ago, when he failed to be nominated for his acclaimed role as a prissy, insecure wine enthusiast in “Sideways.” Giametti was named best actor in a miniseries or TV movie for the title role in HBO’s “John Adams.”Anna Paquin’s win for best actress in a drama series for “True Blood” proved the 25-year-old New Zealand actress, can handle sexy grownup roles. Paquin, who earned an Oscar for 1993’s “The Piano” at 11 (which was also her first Golden Globe nomination), won for for her role as a mind-reading waitress with a taste for vampire love in the HBO series.And maybe now, with “Mad Men’s” win for best TV series last night, the ‘60s-set drama may finally draw some viewers.

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SAG ( SAG Awards) Nominations 2008 Announced

30 Rock and Mad Men have won the love of Emmy voters, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and now their peers: The quirky comedy and advertising drama continued their streaks Thursday morning with three Screen Actors Guild nominations each.Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey will look to defend their SAG crowns in the male and female comedy categories, while the Rock cast looks for its first comedy ensemble statuette. The cast will face off against those of The Office, Desperate Housewives, Entourage and Weeds.

Following the complete list of nominees from film and TV ...

FILM

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

* Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
* Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
* Sean Penn, Milk
* Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

* Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
* Angelina Jolie, Changeling
* Melissa Leo, Frozen River
* Meryl Streep, Doubt
* Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

* Josh Brolin, Milk
* Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
* Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
* Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
* Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

* Amy Adams, Doubt
* Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
* Viola Davis, Doubt
* Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Kate Winslet, The Reader

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

* Doubt
* Frost/Nixon
* Milk
* Slumdog Millionaire
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

* Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
* Paul Giamatti, John Adams
* Kevin Spacey, Recount
* Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
* Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

* Laura Dern, Recount
* Laura Linney, John Adams
* Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
* Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
* Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

* Michael C. Hall, Dexter
* Jon Hamm, Mad Men
* Hugh Laurie, House
* William Shatner, Boston Legal
* James Spader, Boston Legal

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

* Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
* Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
* Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
* Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
* Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

* Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
* Steve Carell, The Office
* David Duchovny, Californication
* Jeremy Piven, Entourage
* Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

* Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
* America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
* Tina Fey, 30 Rock
* Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
* Tracey Ullman, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

* Boston Legal
* Dexter
* House
* Mad Men
* The Closer

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

* 30 Rock
* Desperate Housewives
* Entourage
* The Office
* Weeds

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

* The Dark Knight
* Hellboy II: The Golden Army
* Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
* Iron Man
* Wanted

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

* Friday Night Lights
* Heroes
* Prison Break
* The Unit
* The Closer

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Michelle Williams Missing Heath Ledger Badly

It's been 10 months since Heath Ledger's tragic death. And, obviously, Michelle Williams is still reeling.In fact, during a recent interview with Newsweek, the actress – mother of Ledger's three-year-old daughter, Matilda – burst into tears at the mere mention of his name."It's so sad," the 28-year-old told the magazine of Ledger's death – ruled an accidental overdose of prescription drugs – in late January.

How is she holding up? "I guess it's always changing," she said. "What else can I say? I just wake up each day in a slightly different place – grief is like a moving river."Although the two Brokeback Mountain stars had split before Ledger's death, they always remained close.

"It's a strange thing to say, because I'm at heart an optimistic person, but I would say in some ways it just gets worse," she said of her grief. "It's just that the more time that passes, the more you miss someone. In some ways it gets worse. That's what I would say."The actress – currently starring in the indie flick Wendy and Lucy – says she's currently taking a year off to focus on her daughter.

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Matilda Rose Ledger :Heath Ledger Life Insurance Scandal

Heath Ledger made his daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, the beneficiary of his life insurance policy. The problem is that the company holding the policy is not paying up claiming that Ledger might have committed suicide.Heath Ledger took out a $10 million life insurance policy about six months before he died. ReliaStar Life Insurance Company wrote the policy with Matilda Rose Ledger, his 2-year-old daughter, as the beneficiary. The money was to be held in trust for her benefit.

The insurance company has refused to pay the claim and instead has attempted to investigate whether or not Ledger took his own life in spite of the fact that his death was official determined to have been due to an accidental overdose. The trustee of Matilda’s inheritance has filed suit against the company on her behalf claiming that the insurance company is unlawfully attempting to pry into Ledger’s life, intimate witnesses and drag out the payment of benefits as long as possible.

The attorneys for the insurance company are demanding medical records of any and every medical person or institution Ledger saw since 1996, depositions with and exhaustive list of his friends including Mary-Kate Olsen and the masseuse who was in his home when he died and people involved in his last film.If they can determine he committed suicide then they don’t have a provision through which they will only have to pay Matilda the premiums that were paid to them for the policy.

Another loophole they are attempting to use is claiming that he may have lied on his application for the insurance policy. They are claiming that he denied using illegal drugs and denied that he was on any prescription drugs when he filled out the application. They are claiming this even though his autopsy showed no illegal drugs in his system at the time of his death. They say he had a prescription for Ambien, but none was in his system when he died.

On a more positive note, the Ledger family is giving Matilda the full amount of Ledger’s estate. He had not updated his will since Matilda had been born which meant she was not included in his will. All of his estate had been left to his siblings and parents. The family have stated that they felt his intent would have been for Matilda to be the beneficiary of his estate and have turned it all over to a trustee for the little girl. His estate is estimated at about $20 million (USD).

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Actors Donate Saleries To Matilda Ledger

Despite the fact that Heath Ledger did not change his will to leave anything to his daughter, Matilda Rose, the little girl will be well taken care of. That’s all thanks to the Hollywood stars who took Heath’s place on his last film, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp were also friends of the late actor, and have donated their entire paychecks to the little girl. Imaginarium director Terry Gilliam told the press,

“They didn’t take money — it goes to Heath’s daughter. That’s extraordinary! And wonderful… and when you’re part of that, you think, ‘Ah, this is maybe why I went into the movies in the beginning. I thought it would be full of wonderful people.’ And we’ve got a movie full of wonderful people who did extraordinary things to help.”

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Michelle Williams Dating Spike Jonze

Seven months after Heath Ledger's untimely death, his former fiancee, Michelle Williams, is now reportedly dating director Spike Jonze, Star Magazine says in a exclusive.Devastated by the death of her ex, Heath Ledger, last January, Michelle has been struggling to start anew for the sake of their 2-year-old daughter, Matilda. And part of this is beginning a relationship with the director, who once dated Drew Barrymore and was previously married to Sofia Coppola. "Michelle kissed Spike with a closed mouth on the corner of his lips," says an eyewitness who saw the couple together the morning of July 2 leaving Spike's Manhattan apartment. "There was definitely a little bit of caressing going on. She was clutching his arm. The body language was very romantic."Sources close to this story say that Michelle Williams is head over heels and thinks Jonze has many admirable qualities. Qualities such as "funny," "smart," and "not dead."

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Batman 3: Who’s the Next Villain?

As The Dark Knight mounts its record-breaking box office run, talk of future sequels has already reached a fever pitch. But which foes might Batman face in a potential follow-up? Following in the footsteps of Heath Ledger's terrifying turn as the Joker would be an unenviable task for any actor, but the real challenge could lie with director Christopher Nolan and his brother/writing partner Jonathan. A peek at the remaining adversaries in Batman's legendary "Rogue's Gallery" reveals a less-than-appealing cast of cartoonish, over-the-top characters ill-suited for the darker, more realistic vision of the Caped Crusader established in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Any characters plucked from remaining ranks of Batman villains would almost certainly have to be reinvented to fit the Nolan mold: that is, no supernatural abilities, no outsized physical proportions and no preposterous origin stories. Here's a list of foes with a shot at making the cut.

The reviews are in for The Dark Knight, and they're nearly unanimous in their praise for Heath Ledger's terrifying portrayal of the Joker. Ledger's performance in Christopher Nolan's follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins has even spawned a grass-roots Oscar campaign for the deceased actor, aimed at making him the first posthumous winner since Network's Peter Finch was crowned Best Actor in 1977.

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The Dark Knight Review

The toughest thing about following up a great movie is living up to expectations, and with "Batman Begins," writer-director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale set the bar awfully high.With its engaging script, terrific cast and brooding tone, "Begins" is arguably the best superhero film ever to hit theaters. How does one top that?They don't. But Nolan and company did everything possible to pull a repeat performance, and the result is a stunning action piece that should appeal not only to the popcorn-munching crowd but serious filmgoers.

"Dark Knight" picks up where "Batman Begins" left off, with multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne (Bale) transitioning from the life of a fledgling crime fighter to that of a legend. His Batman persona has captured the attention of seedy Gotham City, diminishing crime rates but also creating copycat vigilantes. Officially, the Gotham Police are supposed to arrest the masked man, but unofficially he's seen as a savior. Periodically, police Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) even fires up the bat signal simply to let criminals know they have company.

"Dark Knight" isn't a simple fable, though. While Batman's actions have decreased crime in Gotham, they have also provided motivation to its more unstable elements, in particular a makeup clad wacko known as the Joker (Heath Ledger). As played by Ledger, the Joker isn't so much a clown as a heartless, scheming madman who pulls heists just because he can. And when it comes to murder, well, he loves that.One of the great tragedies of the film, of course, is that Ledger didn’t live to see its completion, even though he has bested Jack Nicholson's excellent portrayal of the Joker in 1989's "Batman." There's been buzz about an Oscar nomination for Ledger, and considering the performances we've seen in 2008 so far, such an honor would be well-deserved.

This Joker does not prance about daintily. His "jokes" are not taunts, but rather deadly, no-win situations, and Batman realizes he has met his match. In fact, Batman's showdowns with the Joker wake him up to the realities of the path he's embarked on.While Batman may be a positive for the city, his vigilante nature will never allow him to be a symbol of hope in the daylight. For that, Bruce Wayne turns to Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), a fearless district attorney who aggressively prosecutes all comers. Still, there are those who want to extinguish hope, and the Joker is on board with that philosophy.

Although the main story arc in "Dark Knight" involves Batman vs. Joker, the movie isn't easily summed up. It addresses the issue of copycat vigilantes, contains a subplot about the protection of Batman's secret identity and considers what it really means to be a hero.Nolan attacks all of this with a confidence and skill that makes the film's two and a half hour run seem shorter. And, despite numerous points that seem like closes, he keeps the action going and builds to a pitch-perfect finale.

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Heath Ledger Cocaine Lawsuit

A lawsuit was filed on April 11, by a plaintiff listed as “Jane Doe” claiming Heath Ledger was set up by a couple of photographers who supplied the actor with cocaine at a 2006 SAG after-party, then videotaped him to make a quick buck.The suit names Splash News & Picture Agency, Kevin Smith (managing partner and shareholder in Splash), Gary Morgan (managing partner and shareholder in Splash), Eric Munn (reporter and videographer employed by Splash), and Darren Banks (paparazzo photographer employed by Splash).

The suit claims Munn left the party, and began secretly videotaping everyone in the room from the balcony.Ledger reportedly went ballistic when he realized what was happening and was told the tape would be destroyed. It was later sold to Entertainment Tonight for $200,000, even though the entire tape never made it on air.Doe, the one filing the suit, is asking for intrusion, infliction of emotional distress and privacy violations.One of Ledger’s reps says the actor is never shown on the tape doing coke.

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Heath Ledger Has Love Child!!

Reports are surfacing that Heath Ledger may have fathered a love child with an older woman, then 25, when he was a mere 17 years old.The battle involving Heath Ledger’s will now has a surprising twist - family members of the late actor claim that Heath secretly fathered a love child, a girl, over 11 years ago, when he was 17 years old. The mother of the child was in a relationship with another man at that time, and only knew of her pregnancy after her affair with Heath was over.

A family source revealed:“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.”If he did indeed father this child, then the multi-million dollar estate will more than likely be split between his daughter Matilda, whom he had with former fiancee Michelle Williams.Heath died last January in New York of an accidental overdose on prescription drugs.

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Family Fights Over Heath Ledger’s Will

Heath Ledger's family have already begun the infighting over the handling of his estate. That didn't take long. Apparently Heath's uncles want Heath's father Kim to be removed as executor because he completely botched the handling of his own father's estate 15 years ago. Heath's uncles have already told Michelle Williams father that Kim is a poor executor, according to People:

Ledger's uncle Mike insists the family has nothing to gain by removing Kim: "Our only vested interest is to assure that Matilda is well looked after."Mike added that Kim's recent statement that Matilda "will be taken care of" was not enough assurance. "When you are talking about large sums of money like this," he says, "it should be an independent executor, but Kim hasn't chosen that way."

In case you didn't know, Heath Ledger's will was written in 2003 before he met Michelle Williams. It left everything to his parents and sisters. Which shouldn't be that bad for Michelle considering she still has all that sweet Dawson Creek dough. Just don't tell James Van Der Beek. He was paid in forehead cream.

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Heath Ledger Drug Video!

News is breaking of a video showing Heath Ledger doing drugs. Here’s what is being said about the video.One of the entertainment news shows is going to broadcast an explosive video of Heath Ledger at a drug-fueled party."I’m gonna get so much sh!t from my girlfriend," Ledger said in the video.A friend asks "Why?"Heath says, "We have a baby together … Matilda … Matilda Rose.""The tables at the party are covered with drugs," one person who has seen the tape said.Ledger also talks about his drug use, and the scene is stomach churning."I used to smoke five joints a day," Heath said, "… and that’s not the only thing." It’s being reported that Ledger also battled addiction to heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and prescription pills.

Along with the many questions left unanswered about the tragic death of Heath Ledger, there is also speculation and allegations about what kind of life style he was leading. Many are saying that Heath struggled with addictions to heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and prescription pills. In the latest news, one of the celebrity entertainment television shows claims to have a drug tape which confirms these speculations, showing Heath at a drug ridden party at the Chateau Maramont last year.

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Heath Ledger Saddles Up Gemma Ward

Meet Gemma Ward, the supermodel who was rumored to have been dating Heath Ledger before he died.Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment today. Rumor has it he was dating Gemma Ward.As a biography, Gemma Ward was born November 3, 1987 in Perth, Australia (the same birthplace as Ledger), so her age is 20. Her measurements are 32-24-35, 5′9″ tall. Gemma was discovered as a model in 2002 after being a part of the Australian television show “Search for a Supermodel”. She is now represented by Vivien’s Model Management in Australia and by IMG in New York.

Gemma has recently started acting, starring in three films since 2001: “Pink Pyjamas”, “The Strangers”, and “The Black Balloon”.In 2003, Vogue named Gemma one of their nine most promising “It Girls”. At 16, she was the youngest model to have the honor.In December 2007, Gemma was linked to Heath Ledger as the two were spotted several days in a row in their hometown of Perth, Australia. With all of their dates, an onlooker stated, “It’s pretty obvious their an item.”

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Heath Ledger Is Found Dead

Heath Ledger, the Australian-born actor whose breakthrough role as a gay cowboy in the 2005 movie “Brokeback Mountain” earned him a nomination for an Academy Award and comparisons to the likes of Marlon Brando, was found dead Tuesday in an apartment in Manhattan with sleeping pills near his body, the police said.The police said Mr. Ledger, 28, was found naked on the floor near the bed in an apartment in SoHo that he had been renting. The chief police spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said the police did not suspect foul play.

There was no indication of a disturbance,” he said, adding that there were no signs that Mr. Ledger had been drinking. Nor were any illegal drugs found in the loft, which takes up the entire fourth floor. Neighbors said Mr. Ledger had occupied it for several months.Police officials said that a bottle of prescription sleeping pills was found on a nearby night table, but that they did not know whether the pills had anything to do with Mr. Ledger’s death. Officers who checked the apartment found other prescription medications in the bathroom. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office said an autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday.

Mr. Ledger had become a familiar figure in his SoHo neighborhood — and something of a fixture in gossip columns — since moving there after he broke up with the actress Michelle Williams, who played his wife in “Brokeback Mountain.”There were reports of hand-holding and lip-locking with various actresses and models, and sightings at restaurants and cocktail bars. He had clashed with paparazzi in Australia, but in New York, where there is no shortage of problem-causing partygoers, “he certainly wasn’t one of them,” said Paul Sevigny, an owner of the Beatrice Inn, a West Village club that Mr. Ledger frequented.

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was born on April 4, 1979, in Perth, Australia, where a local theater company cast him in “Peter Pan” when he was 10. That role led to parts on children’s television programs, and to the 1992 film “Clowning Around” and the television series “Ship to Shore.”After appearing in a short-lived Australian television series, he moved to Los Angeles in 1999. His first Hollywood film was the teenage romantic comedy “10 Things I Hate About You,” a send-up of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” in which he appeared opposite Julia Stiles.

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