Heath Ledger
Cast member Gary Oldman accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles January 25, 2009. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

“The Dark Knight” actor Heath Ledger died tragically in 2008 but the legend lives on through his scholarship to aspiring Australian actors. The prestigious annual Heath Ledger Scholarship is awarded annually to various Australian actors. It is that time of the year when the aspiring candidates can apply for it. Various Australian actors including Rose Byrne and Ben Mendelsohn have been named as judges for the annual scholarship.

Other judges who will choose the winner include director Gregor Jordan and the American actor, writer and producer Vince Vaughn, producer Adam Schroeder, and director Kieran Darcy-Smith. Two casting directors Laray Mayfield (from U.S.) and Ann Fay (from Australia) are also on the panel of judges for this year's scholarship, which is given by the Los Angeles-based industry body Australians in Film. The scholarship aims to help aspiring and talented people to make their mark in the United States film industry.

Australians in Film gives the winner an attractive prize money of U.S.$10,000 (AUD$13,000) in cash and also pays for the winner's flights to Los Angeles. The winner will spend two-years at the Stella Adler Academy and will also be given U.S. $5000 in visa and immigration assistance. The announced winner will also get a chance to get a mentorship from various well known people in the industry, according to the official page of the Heath Ledger Scholarship.

The applications are now open for various Australian actors to apply. The recipient of the prestigious scholarship will be announced at a special Heath Ledger Scholarship dinner in Los Angeles, expected to be held in June. The scholarship was Established in 2008 in honour of the late Academy Award winner, Ledger. The last date for submission of application is Tuesday, April 21.

Previous recipients of the scholarship include Anna McGahan (Anzac Girls), Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows), Ryan Corr (The Water Diviner), Oliver Ackland (Party Tricks), Cody Fern (The Last Time I Saw Richard) and James Mackay (The Tomorrow People). “The opportunities and support offered through the Heath Ledger Scholarship have been truly life changing; the benefits continue to have a profound impact on both my personal and professional life. It has been a privilege and a great honour to be part of such an incredible legacy and I cannot thank Australians in Film and the Ledger family enough,” the winner Cody is quoted as saying to Mumbrella.

For any questions/comments on the article, you may contact the writer at: n.tewari@ibtimes.com.au

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