Heath Ledger Was Never the Same After Playing the Joker

Sleeplessness at Its Peak

Heath Ledger always had troubles with sleep, reportedly due to a “racing mind.” Unfortunately, The Dark Knight only served to worsen his chronic insomnia. The Joker as a character was a physically draining role to play and a mentally taxing one.

Ledger commented in an interview that he slept for an average of just two hours a day during one of the weeks of filming. He also remarked that he was resistant to sleep medication.