September 6, 2007: I wish I knew how to quit you

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams have split up.

by Jeffrey Cottrill

Brokeback Mountain stars Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams have broken up their relationship amicably, People and Us Weekly reported this week.

The breakup actually took place weeks ago, although it didn't reach the press until earlier this week. The pair has a daughter, Matilda Rose, who is nearly two years old.

"The relationship had been rocky recently," a source close to the pair told HelloMagazine.com. "They tried very hard to make it work but finally decided to separate. They just grew apart." The source also added that Ledger and Williams "are both committed to being great parents."

Williams' father, Larry Williams, also confirmed the split on September 4. "We've known about their troubles for a while," he told The Daily Telegraph, "but it's always a very difficult thing in life when these things happen... I have great respect for Heath, and I know he cares tremendously for Michelle."

Ledger and Williams met in 2004 on the set of Brokeback Mountain, the acclaimed Ang Lee western for which both actors earned Oscar nominations. They reportedly merged their trailers into one immediately after meeting. After the shoot, the couple moved in together in Brooklyn, where they raised their child. There were rumors that the pair had secretly married earlier this year, but the supposed union was never confirmed by either star's rep, and no legal documents ever surfaced.

Ledger, 28, will appear in the next Batman movie, The Dark Knight, which has just finished shooting in Chicago. Williams, 26, has been busy filming the upcoming thriller Incendiary, co-starring Ewan McGregor, in London. She is probably best known for her role on the teen TV drama Dawson's Creek.

When you're getting a divorce or ending any serious relationship, it's always best to do so in an amicable way, as Ledger and Williams appear to have done. Click here for John Gray's tips on how to break up with forgiveness, understanding, and trust.

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