Jake Gyllenhaal has recalled the moment Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams fell in love.
The actors all starred together in iconic movie Brokeback Mountain, and it was on the set that Heath and Michelle’s romance began. The film will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary and it’s gave Jake a chance to reflect on that special time.
“For the first month of shooting we all lived by this river in little trailers,” he recalled to OUT Magazine. “We’d wake up and make breakfast for each other, and hang out. Heath and Michelle fell in love. It was a really special, special time. It’s why we are all still close— not just bonded by the success of the film, but bonded by the experience. It was an intimate project in that way.”
Heath and Michelle dated for three years and welcomed daughter Matilda together in October 2005. The 28-year-old sadly passed away in January 2008 from an accidental intoxication from prescription drugs.
His passing is still felt strongly by the cast and crew of Brokeback Mountain, and Jake admits he misses his friend both personally and professionally.
“While there are many parts of the real story that are sad, one of the saddest things is that I won’t be able to exchange ideas creatively with Heath again, because that was one of the most beautiful things to come out of that,” he said.
Screenwriter Diana Ossana also spoke about Heath and Michelle’s romance on set. She noticed the late star’s feelings for Michelle the day they filmed the toboggan scene which involved the actress falling off the sled and laughing. Three takes in, the actress was left in tears after twisting her knee, but Heath was quick to console her as she was placed in an ambulance.
“‘I remember him looking at her, and she looking up at him with these wide eyes,” she said. “She was almost startled by the attention he was giving her, but you could see it every day from thereon. For him it was truly love at first sight. He was so taken with her.”