Although there are reports that Heath Ledger was most recently dating Helena Christensen and Heather Graham, it is believed that he was in a romantic relationship with an Australian model at the time of his death. And we still haven’t heard from Heath Ledger from the 20 year old Gemma Ward.  The model, turned actress, from the same home town as Ledger - Perth, Australia is apparently the most sought after person the tabloids are trying to get a hold of as the story of Heath Ledger’s death spreads and captivates the media and the public’s attention.

The blonde haired blue eyed model was linked to Ledger when the two were spotted together in Perth on December 20, 2007.  Vogue later reported that the two had achieved full on ‘coupledom’ according to a blurb on the magazine’s web page.  Additionally, there were reports that on December 26th Heath Ledger and Gemma Ward were together at Creatures Loft in Fremantle and acting like a couple, a source said:

“They weren’t all over each other but they were sitting together and looked like they were together.”

Ward’s older sister 22 year old Sophie Ward, also a model and friend of Heath Ledger’s said to local Australian media that Heath Ledger was ‘distressed’ during the holidays and concerned about his split from actress Michelle Williams and his relationship with his two year old daughter Matilda.  It is well known that Ledger split from Williams in September and then moved from their Brooklyn home to an apartment in the SoHo area of Manhattan.

Speaking to West Australian reporters, Sophie Ward said:

“He was clean and wasn’t drinking any alcohol or taking drugs… He smoked cigarettes, but that’s about it. He was drinking Diet Coke when we were together and he said he was very committed to not drinking alcohol…… I don’t believe he took his own life deliberately.”

Gemma Ward, who also resides in New York was discovered in the audience of Australian television show “Search for a Supermodel” at age 15.  The following year, fashion editor Anna Wintour selected the 5′10″ model as one of the “It Girls” of the supermodel world.  According to modeling and fashion statistics, she was the youngest model on the Vogue cover.  According to Forbes magazine Ward is the tenth ranking supermodel with regard to financial earnings in 2007.  Gemma Ward will appear in a very small part in the upcoming film (”The Strangers“) from director Bryan Bertin which releases in August of this year.   She has also recently completed filming what looks to be the larger part of ‘Jackie Masters’ in the upcoming film “The Black Balloon” which will premiere in February at the Berlin Film Festival.  “The Black Balloon” stars fellow Australian actress Toni Collette and the plot line revolves around a family dealing with autism.

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