HEATH LEDGER - HEATH LEDGER 'COULD WIN AN OSCAR'

HEATH LEDGER 'COULD WIN AN OSCAR'

Heath Ledger could win a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker in Batman sequel THE DARK KNIGHT.

The Australian actor accidentally overdosed on prescription drugs on January 22nd at just 28 years of age.

However, his role in the superhero movie has attracted praise from critics, many of whom think it is worthy of an Academy Award.

Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers said: "I can only speak superlatives of Heath, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker.

"It's typical of Heath's total commitment to films as diverse as Brokeback Mountain and I'm Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked.

"Heath's Joker has no grey areas - he's all rampaging id. He creates a Joker for the ages."

The last actor to win an Oscar after his death was Peter Finch for his role in 1975's NETWORK.

Ledger's menacing portrayal of The Joker has been likened to the shark in JAWS by DARK NIGHT director Christopher Nolan.