Maggie Gyllenhaal is remembering the late Heath Ledger and his transformative performance in Christopher Nolan's 2008 blockbuster, The Dark Knight.

In a recently resurfaced interview from her March appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the 48-year-old actress reflected on sharing the screen with Ledger. He portrayed the Joker, while Gyllenhaal played Rachel Dawes, Bruce Wayne's childhood friend.

Gyllenhaal noted that acting in a massive production presents unique challenges. She explained that it is often difficult to deliver a nuanced performance when special effects and large crowd scenes dominate the set.

"Heath Ledger just took the space he needed, and was incredible in that movie," she told Barrymore.

The Oscar-nominated actress previously shared similar sentiments during a 2018 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. She recalled the first time she witnessed Ledger's approach while filming the scene where the Joker throws her character off a roof.

"I still think about this sometimes," Gyllenhaal said. "To be amazing like Heath was in a movie that's got explosions and huge stunt scenes and big sets is a whole other thing."

Ledger's portrayal of the Joker has become one of the most celebrated performances in film history. He posthumously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role, a testament to his enduring impact on cinema .

Tragically, Ledger did not live to see the film's release. He passed away in January 2008 at the age of 28. His death was ruled an accidental overdose from prescription medications .

The Dark Knight went on to become a cultural phenomenon and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made. Ledger's portrayal of the Joker set a new standard for comic book villains and continues to influence actors and filmmakers nearly two decades later.