Australian actor Matt Levett has been named the seventh recipient of the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship, which fosters the education and career development of emerging Australian actors within the United States.
The 31-year-old actor, whose credits in Australia include the popular series A Place Called Home and the recent award-winning mini-series Devil’s Playground, arrived in Los Angeles on the weekend as one of 20 finalists but didn’t find out he was the winner until he got a call from Kim Ledger, Heath’s father and Patron of the HLS endowment, late Sunday night.
“I’d convinced myself I wasn’t going to win so when he called, I didn’t really say much, I was caught for words,” Levett admits. Ledger’s mother, Sally, and sister Kate, attended the event at the Sunset Marquis on June 1, along with the two runner-ups, Emilie Cocquerel and Lily Sullivan. Australian celebrities attending also including: Jacki Weaver, Liam Hemsworth, Radha Mitchell and director Phil Noyce.
Since its inception in 2008, the HLS Finalists’ List has emerged as an important international and local industry reference tool for highlighting Australian talent to watch. The scholarship was established in honor of the late Academy Award® winner, Heath Ledger, and aims to provide a bridge for actors who have achieved a level of success in Australia, to establish themselves as working actors in the United States. It is an exciting and ultimately life-changing opportunity for the finalists, often boosting their profile with agents and managers in America and introducing them to a network of professionals who can support them throughout their career.
The winner was chosen by celebrity judges who span the entertainment and film industry, including Australian actors Rose Byrne (Damages, Bridesmaids) and Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), American star Vince Vaughn (True Detective 2), executive producer Adam Schroeder (Zoolander, Sleepy Hollow), directors Kieran Darcy-Smith (Wish You Were Here) and Gregor Jordan (Ned Kelly and Two Hands, both Ledger films), Australian-based casting director Ann Fay and Emmy award-winning casting director Laray Mayfield (Fight Club, House of Cards, The Social Network).
“It was a real honor to know people of that caliber took the time out to judge the scholarship and saw my work,” Levett says. Mayfield, who was a first-time judge this year, was equally impressed. “It was inspiring to be on a judging panel where every person was passionate and invested in the result,” she says. “The decision was not easy as each of the applicants are talented and unique and we are sure they will have long and lovely careers. Ultimately our decision was to award the scholarship to Matt Levett and we are all excited about watching his talent and career continue to grow.”
Levett admits Heath Ledger – who was a Golden Globe nominee for the 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain but won his first Golden Globe posthumously for his work as the Joker in the 2008 film The Dark Knight – was always one of his inspirations as a young actor. “One of my favorite films is Two Hands, where he started out, but he was one of those guys who went over to the States and was a pioneer for the future generation, establishing Australian actors in Los Angeles,” he adds. “Now there are just so many and I think that’s primarily because of him and a handful of other actors who blazed the trail. I know he’s the inspiration for a lot of us who come over to pursue this crazy dream and I also admire his choices and the fact that later in his career he was still taking risks and choosing really interesting projects.”

As the winner, Levett receives two return flights to Los Angeles on Virgin Australia, a two-year scholarship at Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles, a 7-day California trip from Visit California, $5,000 worth of Visa and Immigration services from Raynor & Associates, a complimentary lifetime membership to StarNow and $10,000 cash, affording the winner the opportunity to establish themselves in the heart of the entertainment industry. He plans to stay in Los Angeles and take advantage of the resources and profile the scholarship brings him. “My dream is to be working on great projects but also to aim for that consistency of work,” he adds.
Founded in May 2001, Australians in Film is a non-profit organization that serves as the industry guild for Australian entertainment professionals in Los Angeles, holding regular screenings, career development programs, seminars and labs, and currently has over 600 members. Benefactors of the Heath Ledger Scholarship include Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Deborra-Lee Furness, Alex O’Loughlin, Liam Hemsworth, Michelle Williams, Phil Noyce, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin.
Jenny Cooney Carrillo
Matt Levett receives the Heath Ledger Scholarship

Matt Levett with Heath Ledger’s sister Kate and mother, Sally

Vince Vaughn with Matt Levett and Ledger’s mother, Sally, and sister Kate

Matt Levett with Vince Vaughn, who was one of the judges