Magda Szubanski has responded after a decades-old video of herself and late Aussie actor Heath Ledger has ruffled a few feathers on social media.
The clip in question has amassed millions of views, and dates back to the 2006 Australian Film Institute Awards, now known as the AACTA Awards.
Never forget the time Heath Ledger made a fan’s day unforgettable.
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 2, 2025
pic.twitter.com/buX6heRi3e
It sees Ledger, who was nominated that year for best lead actor for his role in Candy, being interviewed on the red carpet by Szubanski, who is playing her iconic Kath and Kim character and powerhouse netballer, Sharon Strzelecki.
After Szubanski (justifiably) freaks out at the sight of Ledger, the actor joins in on the bit by planting her a smooch, causing her to (justifiably) fall to the floor.
The hilarious moment, which emerged just one year before Ledger’s tragic death, will be familiar to most Aussies, and while anyone with media literacy skills above that of a gnat will understand it as a clear comedic skit, the moment has caused a stir on social media.
This type of reaction should be discouraged.
— papa (@papa_piers) May 3, 2025
Some commentators assumed Szubanski was a “fan” and not the homegrown hero we know her as, while others deemed Ledger’s kiss as forceful behaviour that should be “discouraged”.
Weighing in on the fanfare, Szubanski instructed critics to ‘look at moi’ as she set the record straight on the viral moment.
“I don’t know how many times I have to correct the record and tell people it’s not some rando fan!!”, the actress wrote on X, explaining that she was going method as “my character Sharon Strzelecki from Aussie sitcom Kath and Kim!!”.
Louder for the Americans in the back!
I don’t know how many times I have to correct the record and tell people it’s not some rando fan!! It’s me, @MagdaSzubanski as my character Sharon Strzelecki from Aussie sitcom Kath and Kim !!
— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) May 3, 2025
That said, Heath had no idea “Sharon” was gonna scream like that and he responded like… https://t.co/CiEywW8g3V
Szubanski went on to reveal that Ledger was surprised by Sharon’s reaction to him, but responded in kind “like a true Sharon fan” and “pashed her”.
The pair’s palpable chemistry reared its head again later on in the ceremony, when they appeared on stage to present the Reader’s Choice award and shared yet another kiss.
Concluding her post, Szubanski said she would “describe this incident in detail another time”, meaning some much-needed Ledger kissing deets might soon be on the horizon.
In the meantime, I’m off to pull a Barbenheimer and watch Kath and Kim back-to-back with The Dark Knight. Those gals are the perfect palette cleanser for the Joker.
Lead image: Simon Fergusson/Getty Images
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