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'Heat', an oil on canvas portrait of Heath Ledger, painted shortly before he died by artist Vincent Fantauzzo - Source: Reuters -
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The professionals closest to Heath Ledger have revealed how the Hollywood star battled with fame, a failed relationship and insomnia in the lead-up to his untimely death.
Vanity Fair spoke to the crew from Ledger's last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and others for its August issue.
Vocals coach Gerry Grennell worked and lived with the actor during the filming of The Dark Knight.
Grennell says Ledger never once drank alcohol during that period but his use of sleeping medication to combat chronic insomnia was a concern.
Grennell is convinced Ledger's death, "was a combination of exhaustion, sleeping medication ... and perhaps the after-effects of the flu".
Cinematographer Nicola Pecorini worked with Ledger on Parnassus and said used to smoke marijuana on a regular basis but gave up.
The actor's mentor and Parnassus director Terry Gilliam said Ledger's romance with Michelle Williams began to unravel during the Oscar campaign for his acclaimed performance in Brokeback Mountain.
Legal wrangling over custody of their daughter Matilda "made Heath snap", Gilliam said.
