Terry Gilliam on Heath Ledger Break-Up

Heath Ledger's relationship with Michelle Williams began to sour after both were nominated for an Oscar, it has been claimed. Terry Gilliam - who directed the tragic star in his last film before his death in January 2008 - said Ledger confided in him about his troubles with partner Williams. She and Ledger met on the set of Brokeback Mountain - and both landed Academy Award nominations for their performances in the 2005 film drama. But according to Gilliam, Ledger was less interested in the accolade than she was. He tells the new issue of Vanity Fair magazine: "That was the moment when it changed, when he realised, uh-oh, we perceive the world differently. He didn't care about things like those awards." The couple split up in September 2007 after being together for three years. Their daughter, Matilda, was born in October 2005. And according to Gilliam, the director of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, they soon fell out. He claims: "He was trying to be decent and graceful, give her whatever she wanted. "But once it started going south, it went very quickly. He was overwhelmed by lawyers, and there were more and more of them, as if they were breeding. "I said, 'Heath, just end it. Get out - it's bad. You've got to just walk away from it.'" The pair were also said to have argued about custody for Matilda. Gilliam claimed: "That was the thing that really made Heath snap. "He said, 'I'm not giving Michelle anything.'"