Gyllenhaal and Ledger starred as repressed and long-separated lovers in the 2005 romantic drama. Ledger died in 2008, and after listening to a clip from the film, Gyllenhaal admitted that hearing the scene stirred up some memories of working on the picture.
It brings me back to thinking about doing that scene with Heath, and the honor it was to work with him, and the beauty of his work. And I miss him as a human being, and I miss working with him. And what an unfortunate thing it is that we wont be able to see the beauty of his expression, Gyllenhaal said.
He was incredibly special, and that doesnt even come close to encapsulating who he is who he was, Gyllenhaal added, revealing that losing such a close friend of a similar age helped shift his priorities.
I think thats why I like to go off and I like to try and get into worlds that will wake me up
Im trying to be present where I am. Im trying to have relationships that are as real as they possibly can be on a movie set [and] be close to people because I know that its precious. And I know that not only can this career end in a very short period of time and this or that can happen, but also that life is precious, he noted. And I think losing Heath and being a part of a family that was something like that movie we all made together makes you see that, makes you appreciate that and hopefully moves you away from the things that really dont matter to the things that do.