Heath Ledger’s Daughter To Receive His Golden Globe Award

Updated 11:00 PM EST, Mon, Jan 12, 2009

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Heath Ledger’s mother has said that the late actor’s 3-year-old daughter, Matilda, is expected to be the recipient of her father’s first ever Golden Globe, which he was awarded posthumously on Sunday night for his role in “The Dark Knight.”

“I should imagine that eventually it will be going to Matilda,” Heath’s mother, Sally Bell, told People. “At this stage she is only so young, but down the track she will have all these things. It will belong to her because she is part of him.”

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Sally, who lives in Perth, Australia, the city of Heath’s birth in 1979, said she was boarding a flight, when she found out her son had won his first Golden Globe, resulting in “a few tears.”

“There is a lot of emotion tied up in this,” Sally said. “We have to deal with that emotion first before we can relax and enjoy the moment, if you know what I mean.”

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The honor caused Sally, who is no longer with Heath’s father, Kim Ledger, and her family to “burst with pride.” And, Sally said it would mean more down the road when Matilda gets a little older.

“It is such a fantastic and wonderful legacy for his daughter. Matilda will have so many people who will be able to speak to her about her father’s abilities and [the] respect he had in the industry,” Sally said. “That is such a wonderful legacy to leave.”

Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment on January 22, 2008. His death was eventually ruled an accidental overdose.

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