Interview of the week: Heath Ledger

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Heath Ledger's fans may be wondering what the handsome 23-year-old Australian looks like in modern clothing.

First there was "The Patriot," where he donned the uniform of a colonial American soldier, then "A Knight's Tale," where he wore the armor of a medieval knight. He made a brief appearance as a prison guard in "Monster's Ball" last year but now he's back in period dress for the World War I film, "The Four Feathers," co-starring Kate Hudson ("Almost Famous") and Wes Bentley ("American Beauty.") His next project? Playing an 1870's Australian bank robber.

So, is Ledger a history buff or does he just dig the clothes?

"I just want to challenge myself and have fun doing it, that's all," he confesses, explaining how he tries to ignore critics who type him as a dramatic actor interested only in sweeping epics.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing more period movies because everyone is going: 'So, are you going to be doing period movies for the rest of your life? Are you going to be riding horses for the rest of your life,' and usually, I would go, 'Oh sh--, I should go do a cop movie now and get into a pair of jeans.' So, it's like, 'Screw it.' I just have to stay focused on what I think that I can do and what I want to do," he states.

"The Four Feathers" is the story of a British commander who announces his resignation just before a major battle. The feathers are recognized by the military as the symbol for cowardice. Described by Ledger as a "tale of self-discovery," "The Four Feathers" already has had four big-screen incarnations.

Asked if he empathizes with his character in light of his actions, Ledger admits he is torn.

"That was one interesting thing when I first read the script because on the page, he read as a coward," he explains. "He didn't want to go to war, and he was using marriage as an excuse, and his friends sent them these feathers and he's like: 'Oh, I'm a coward. I've got to redeem myself now.' Then, just through research and talking and asking myself questions, and putting myself into positions, I came to the conclusion that just that decision, that cowardly decision was the most heroic thing that he did. That was the most courageous thing he did in his life, going against everything around him and his systematic upbringing, and he'd been spoon-fed an identity up to that point and he had an identity crisis once he was confronted with the reality of his life."

Ledger then points a finger at the other soldiers in the film, describing them as sheep for doing something they didn't believe in.

"If he had gone to war, then he would've been a coward because he would've been denying himself," he argues.

Ledger is cautious when asked if the film might resonate with audiences concerned about war today.

"Maybe, but we've been going to war for thousands of years," he says.

"The Four Feathers" opens Sept. 20. Ledger can also be seen this January playing a priest in "The Sin Eater," a modern thriller which re-unites him with Brian Helgeland, the writer/director of "A Knight's Tale." "Knight" alum Shannyn Sossamon and Mark Addy co-star. In March, he returns to the past as 19th century Australian icon Ned Kelly in "The Kelly Gang," opposite Geoffrey Rush. What comes after that is anyone's guess.

"I don't know," Ledger muses. "When I'm working, there is no such thing as pacing. It's just like bam, bam, bam and then, afterwards ... I don't know. It's just about being smart and not overloading yourself. I haven't read a script for the last five months."

Because?

"For that reason. I don't want to really love one of them because I'll probably do it," he says.