Heath Ledger Proposed Playing Kath and Kim's Stalker, Magda Szubanski Reveals
The late actor, who famously kissed Szubanski at the 2006 AFI Awards, later contacted her with the idea for a guest role.
Magda Szubanski has shared a surprising detail about her interaction with the late actor Heath Ledger, revealing that he proposed playing the stalker character for her iconic role as Sharon Strzelecki on the Australian comedy series Kath and Kim. The revelation comes from Szubanski's upcoming memoir, "I Can't Tell You But I Will."
The memorable incident occurred at the 2006 AFI Awards in Melbourne. Szubanski, in character as Sharon, approached Ledger mid-interview, a planned prank that escalated when Ledger spontaneously kissed her. Szubanski described the moment in her memoir as an "actionless moment actors live for."
However, Ledger's engagement with the impromptu comedy extended beyond the awards ceremony. According to Szubanski, Ledger called her the following day with an unusual proposition. He expressed that their red-carpet improv was the most enjoyable experience he'd had in a while and asked if he could guest star on Kath and Kim as Sharon's stalker. The two reportedly had several phone calls discussing the potential collaboration.
This potential collaboration was never realized due to Ledger's tragic death from a prescription medication overdose in 2008. Szubanski had been scheduled to meet with him in London shortly before the news of his passing broke.
In her memoir, Szubanski reflects on Ledger's death, calling it "one of the great 'what ifs' of my life." She expressed sorrow over the lost opportunity to create more comedic moments with the actor, imagining the "delight and hilarity" it would have brought.
Ledger, an acclaimed actor known for roles in films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale, and his Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, passed away at the age of 28.
Szubanski, a veteran Australian comedian and actress, is best known for her role as Sharon Strzelecki in Kath and Kim, a character who became a national icon. The series ran from 2002 to 2007 and had a subsequent special in 2012.