Ledger tipped for posthumous Oscar

11:32pm Friday 4th July 2008

Heath Ledger's co-stars in the upcoming Batman film are tipping the late actor to win a posthumous Oscar.

Ledger's performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight has been so well received that next January 22, the one-year anniversary of his death, he could become just the seventh actor in Oscar history to earn a posthumous nomination.

"I do think that Heath has created an iconic villain that will stand for the ages, and of course, I would love to see him get an award," said Christian Bale, who reprises his Batman Begins role as the tormented crime fighter.

"But you know, to me, you can witness his talent, celebrate his talent within this movie. Anything else is gravy."

Ledger could end up as the second performer to win Hollywood's top honour after his death.

"He may be the first actor since Peter Finch. He may even win the damn thing," said Gary Oldman, who co-stars as noble cop Jim Gordon which opens on July 18.

Finch is the only person to win posthumously, earning the best-actor prize for 1976's Network two months after he died.

News of Ledger's death at age 28 from an accidental drug overdose broke just hours after the Oscar nominations were announced last January, darkening what normally is one of Hollywood's happiest days.

The nominations next year fall on the same date because they were moved back two days from their traditional Tuesday announcement to avoid conflicting with the presidential inauguration.

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