First up, there was Terry Gilliam's insane fantasy, The Brothers Grimm, where Ledger and Matt Damon played Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, travelling con-artists and story-spinners who unwittingly find themselves in the midst of great adventure.

While the film received mixed, and often confused, reviews, Ledger was praised for his contribution.

Then, Lords Of Dogtown, a surfin' and skateboardin' film of the 1970s directed by Catherine Hardwicke, became a runaway success; suddenly, Heath was being taken seriously.