Michelle Williams and her two-year-old daughter Matilda arrived in Perth, Australia, Wednesday afternoon local time for Heath Ledger’s funeral.

Williams, wearing a black dress and black sunglasses, held Matilda in her arms as they exited the plane under heavy security. Matilda clung to a stuffed rabbit as more than five police officers and airport security escorted them into an elevator.

Williams’s arrival comes one day after Ledger’s father, Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate all returned home from the U.S.

From the airport, Williams and Matilda (who was wearing a striped dress and was covered with a blanket) headed to Heath’s mom’s house in the suburb of Applecross.

A private funeral for the actor – who was found dead in his Manhattan apartment Jan. 22 – is expected to take place on Saturday.

Michelle Williams has finally come out with her first public statement since the death of ex-fiancé Heath Ledger, saying simply, “Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken.”

Michelle goes on to say, “I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day. His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes two steps at a time and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up with the best memories of him.”

Michelle’s words are really touching.  Here is a picture of Heath carrying his little girl.

The 28-year-old Australian was found dead in his New York apartment on January 22. Heath and Michelle met on the set of Brokeback Mountain in 2005, and had a daughter, Matilda, 2. They split in September last year.

Here is the new cover of US Weekly.

If Heath Ledger was battling drugs and Michelle Williams was trying to get him into treatment, then they kept it very quiet.

Heath Ledger’s battle with alcohol and drugs was so harmful to his relationship with Michelle Williams that she tried to get him to enter rehab, Us Weekly reports in its latest issue.

For three years, Williams was a firsthand witness to the gifted actor’s use of alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, heroin and “a variety of pills,” says a Ledger confidant.

In March 2006 – just weeks after the couple walked the Oscars red carpet and when daughter Matilda was only five months old – Williams drove Ledger to Promises Treatment Center in Malibu, California.

Ledger refused to check in, instead swaying her with a pledge to clean up.

Even after the couple realized “they were in way over their heads,” according to a source, and split in September 2007, two sources say that Williams demanded Ledger be drug-tested before his visitations with Matilda.

When news of Ledger’s death broke last Tuesday, Williams was inconsolable. “She cried and screamed as soon as she heard,” a source on the Swedish set of her latest film, Mammoth.

Filming of Michelle Williams’s next movie, Blue Valentine, has been put on hold while the actress copes with the death of ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger. Heath and Michelle had a daughter together, Matilda, who is only 2-years-old.

“We will hold off until she is ready,” says a source connected with the film. “The production is in the process of sorting it out in respect to her.”

The movie – a relationship drama centered around a young couple struggling with their marriage – also stars Ryan Gosling, who Williams was rumored to be dating after they were spotted strolling together in New York before the holidays. (more…)

Larry Williams, the father of Michelle Williams is speaking out about the death of Heath Ledger.

He says:

“I think Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent. My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family. The saddest thing is his daughter whom he just loved dearly.”

Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger shared a daughter together, Matilda, who is just two-years-old.

Pictured Above: Heath giving Michelle a hug and kiss.  So sweet. So sad.

Michelle Williams was on location in Sweden, believed to be with 2-year-old daughter Matilda, when she got the news: Heath Ledger was found dead in New York at age 28.

“She’s devastated,” says a source close to the 27-year-old actress.

Although their three-year relationship didn’t last, Williams and Ledger could always agree that their daughter comes first.

“He was absolutely in love with his daughter,” says another source. “And he really liked what he did [acting]. He spoiled [Matilda] rotten. He was playful and very funny with her.”

The source adds: “I can’t believe Matilda is going to grow up without a dad, without knowing her father. And that Michelle will have to deal with having a daughter who’s lost her father. She’s a survivor. She’ll make it, but it’s going to be hard. Her first concern is going to be Matilda.”