Christopher Nolan Recalls Accepting Golden Globe for Heath Ledger After His Death: 'It Was Complicated'

Christopher Nolan remembered his ‘dear friend’ Heath Ledger while accepting the Best Director award at the Golden Globes 2024. The filmmaker won the award for Oppenheimer. Walking up on stage, Nolan recalled the last time he was on stage to receive the award and it was on behalf of Heath Ledger. The actor had won the Best Supporting Actor posthumous for his role as Joker in The Dark Knight, in 2009. At the time, Nolan had accepted the award on behalf of the late actor’s family.

Recalling that night, Nolan said at the 81st Golden Globe Awards that it was a ‘complicated and challenging’ for him but he had Robert Downey Jr’s support. “The only time I’ve ever been on this stage before was accepting one of these on behalf of our dear friend, Heath Ledger, and that was complicated and challenging for me,” he said at the Golden Globes 2024 ceremony. Heath had died in January 2008 following an accidental overdose of prescription medications.

“In the middle of speaking, I got all stuck, and Robert Downey Jr. caught my eye and gave me a look of love and support — the same look he’s giving me now,” he added, with the cameras panning at the Oppenheimer actor. “I thought it would be simpler accepting for myself. But, as a director, I realize I can only accept this on behalf of people. As directors, we bring people together and we try to get them to give their best,” he said.

Nolan expressed his gratitude to the cast and crew of Oppenheimer and gave a special shout out to Cillian Murphy, who Nolan called “my partner in crime for 20 years.”

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer emerged as the biggest winner of the night. The film won Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. It also scored an award for its background score.