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Joaquin Phoenix has paid tribute to Heath Ledger at the 2020 SAG Awards. The act0r won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Joker.
Ledger also famously played the same character in 2008’s The Dark Knight. He died the same year, aged 28, following an accidental prescription drug overdose.
Talking on stage at the SAGs, Phoenix said that Ledger inspired the way he approached the role. “I’m standing here on the shoulders of my favourite actor, Heath Ledger,” he said. “So thank you.”
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He also gave shout-outs to the other nominees. Of DiCaprio, he said: “There would always be two other guys that I was up against and we’d always lose to this one kid…every casting director would always whisper, ‘It’s Leonardo.’ You’ve been an inspiration for over 25 years to me and so many people.”
Phoenix talked of Adam Driver’s “beautiful, nuanced, incredible, profound” performances, and, moving onto Christian Bale, commended him for his consistently flawless jobs. “It’s infuriating. I wish you would. Just suck once,” he said.
Finally, he addressed Taron Egerton, who played Elton John in Rocketman, saying “I’m so happy for you” and “can’t wait to see what else you do.”
From: BAZAAR UK
