In 2008, the movie world was in mourning when Australian actor Heath Ledger passed away at the tender age of 28. In addition to leaving a void in the hearts of fans, the young actor left behind a 2-year-old child, Matilda. The daughter of Ledger and his ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams, Matilda was sadly hounded by the paparazzi in the wake of her dad's death.

Related: Heath Ledger Saved His Career By Turning Down This Epic Flop

But over a decade after her father's tragic demise, Matilda Ledger is doing phenomenally well. While she opts to stay out of the limelight, Matilda is nonetheless a reminder of her famous dad's enduring legacy, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the iconic The Dark Knight star. Set to turn 16 in October, here's an update on Heath Ledger's daughter today.

10 Matilda And Her Mom Had To Escape The Paparazzi After Heath's Death

When Heath Ledger passed away in 2008, images of his infant daughter were constantly in demand by the paparazzi. Somewhat shamelessly, the grieving toddler's face was captured by paps and exhibited across newspapers mere weeks after Ledger's passing. Michelle Williams had no choice but to protect her daughter from the scrutiny of the press.

Consequently, Williams moved miles away from her beloved New York to live a quiet life with Matilda. However, they returned to Brooklyn circa 2018, though Williams ensures that she and her daughter keep a low profile.

9 The Youngster Is "Not Just Surviving, But Thriving"

Having lost her dad when she was just a toddler, life must have been difficult for little Matilda. But her mom has spoken of her pride in witnessing how well her daughter adjusted to unspeakable tragedy.

In 2016, Michelle Williams opened up about raising Matilda in the midst of grief. As she touchingly explained to Porter magazine, "I watched [Matilda] warm in the sun, in her swimsuit, get on her bicycle and smile and wave as she rode off to go meet her friends. I went back into the house and sobbed because of this incredibly simple moment... Not only are we OK, she's happy. Life has brought us to a place that's not just surviving, but thriving."

8 Matilda The Chess Prodigy

While both her parents pursued acting careers, Matilda has decided to go down a decidedly different route. According to sources close to the teen, she is a chess mastermind in the making. Matilda's interest in chess is particularly poignant due to the fact that her father had been planning to adapt The Queen's Gambit long before it became a successful Netflix series.

"Heath was obsessed with chess, and now Matilda is quite good at it," a family friend told Australian publication New Idea. The source added that "Matilda has the skills to become a Grandmaster."

7 She Is Already Taller Than Her Mom

At 5'3", Michelle Williams is one of the most petite actresses in Hollywood. But Matilda hasn't inherited this diminutive gene. The teen is already taller than her mom.

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In fact, Matilda has been steadily growing taller than Michelle Williams since she was a mere 12-years-old. Since her dad stood at over 6 feet tall, Matilda has clearly inherited his towering stature.

6 And She's Her Dad's Doppelganger

It's not just a statuesque build that Matilda has in common with her dad. As the years have passed, it has become abundantly clear that she is the very picture of her late father. 15-year-old Matilda is Heath Ledger's doppelganger, sporting the same distinctive features and tanned complexion that made the Aussie actor a star.

As Matilda's paternal aunt, Kate Ledger, explained, "I feel connected to him through his beautiful daughter Matilda. When Heath was around, she looked so much like him, we used to say, "It's Heath in pigtails.'"

5 She Enjoyed Having A Little Sister For A While

In 2018, Michelle Williams stunned the world when she married indie musician Phil Elverum. Much like Williams, Elverum had suffered a horrific loss. His wife of 13 years, fellow musician Geneviève Castrée, died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, aged 35. The couple's daughter was just a year old when Castrée passed away.

But when Elverum married Williams, his daughter gained a big sister, while Matilda got to enjoy having a sibling for the first time in her life. At the time, Matilda was spotted doting on her little stepsister and the pair appeared to share a close bond. Sadly, that bond ended in 2019 when Williams and Elverum divorced after less than a year of marriage.

4 Now She's Finally A Big Sister For Real

Despite having to say goodbye to her stepsister, Matilda got to become a big sister for real in 2020. Shortly after divorcing Phil Elverum, Michelle Williams married theater director Thomas Kail and she soon announced her pregnancy.

In June 2020, Williams gave birth to her second child, finally giving Matilda a sibling after 14 and a half years of being an only child.

3 Matilda Has Bypassed The Terrible Teens

It's no secret that the teen years tend to be the most difficult and volatile period in an adolescent's life. Yet, Matilda has somehow managed to bypass the notorious turbulence associated with being a teenager.

"Every morning we wake up and I wait to see if the transformation has happened and if it's turned into the next level I keep hearing about, but we're not there yet," Williams told Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2019. Matilda's maturity is testament to how well she has adjusted despite suffering such a terrible loss at a young age.

2 Like Her Dad, She Loves Skateboarding

During his lifetime, it was well known that Heath Ledger was an avid skateboarder. He exhibited his impressive skateboarding skills in the 2005 drama Lords of Dogtown.

Related: How Close Were Joseph Gordon-Levitt And Heath Ledger?

Subsequently, his daughter shares his passion for skateboarding. Matilda's aunt, Kate, compared the teen's skateboarding aptitude to her late father's: "Now everything she does, the way she rides a skateboard, reminds me of Heath," she told People.

1 She Is Set To Inherit Her Dad's Millions

When Heath Ledger passed away, he left behind a $16.3 million estate. However, he had written his will 2 years prior to his daughter's birth and never amended it before his death. Accordingly, Ledger's attorney, John S. LaViolette, sued ReliaStar Life Insurance in an attempt to secure money for Matilda's future. "There is a young girl whose father died who is entitled to this money," a representative for Matilda stated in a press release in 2008.

Accordingly, the lawsuit was settled and Matilda is set to inherit her father's entire $16.3 million fortune when she turns 18.

Next: Heath Ledger Nearly Broke Jake Gyllenhaal's Nose While Filming 'Brokeback Mountain'