Christopher Nolan helped actors win an Oscar – 15 years before his own for Oppenheimer

For Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan finally received his long-deserved first Oscar in 2024. The director and screenwriter is celebrated worldwide for his complex, intellectually demanding and yet entertaining films. He received his first Oscar nomination in 2002 in the Best Original Screenplay category for Memento. He didn’t receive the prize, but he did 5 years later One of his biggest projects helped Heath Ledger win an Oscar.

15 years ago Heath Ledger received his second Oscar

As the Joker in The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger surprised the audience with a breathtaking performance. To this day, all Joker depictions have to be measured against this version – and only a few are even remotely as good. Ledger’s performance took on a tragic note because the actor died in January 2008 at the age of just 28. A year later he was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

This puts him in the small group of 16 people who received the Academy’s award after their death. A selection of the posthumous winners can be found in the New York Post, among others. So far, Ledger is the only winner in the Best Supporting Actor category and only one of two actors ever. The late Peter Finch won the 1977 Oscar for Best Actor.

So Heath Ledger never found out about his great triumph. At the ceremony, his parents and sister accepted the award on his behalf. They also thanked Christopher Nolan, who was able to bring his portrayal of the Joker so intensely to the screen:

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Christopher Nolan still mentioned Heath Ledger at the Golden Globes 15 years later

15 years and 6 blockbusters later, Christopher Nolan was finally awarded an Oscar for Best Director and Best Film. He also received a Golden Globe for Oppenheimer. During his acceptance speech, he mentioned Ledger again and remembered that that as a director he only accepts an award in the name of the actorsthat he brought together.

To this day and despite all the awards, Christopher Nolan not only has a passion for his craft, but also the gratitude and affection he has for the people he works with. It’s not hard to imagine Heath Ledger in particular always holding a place in his heart.