Ledger was planning Drake film

Actor Heath Ledger was planning to make a film about the life of Nick Drake, the Midlands singer and songwriter who died in strikingly similar circumstances to the Brokeback Mountain star, it has been revealed.

Ledger was found dead last week in his New York apartment surrounded by prescription pills. It is believed he died from an overdose although it is not yet known whether it was deliberate or accidental.

It has now emerged that the 28-year-old star was planning a film biography of Drake, the brother of Shropshire actress Gabrielle Drake.

Oscar-nominee Ledger made an amateur video for the last song Drake wrote before, according to a Warwickshire coroner, the singer killed himself aged 26 with anti-depressant pills in 1974.

In the disturbing video for the song Black Eyed Dog, named after Sir Winston Churchill's "black dog" phrase for depression, Ledger used a hand-held camera to film himself slowly drowning in a bath.

A representative of the Drake estate had described the piece as "extremely moving" which had encouraged Ledger to consider making the film.

Like Drake, Ledger was shy in public, and he was also found in his bed at home. Prescription anti-depressants were found at his home, which has given rise to suicide rumours.

Friends say Ledger was talking about a Nick Drake film after spending Christmas with his family in Perth.

In September last year Ledger spoke about his fascination with the cult singer at the Venice film festival.

"Nick Drake is a very mysterious figure," he said. "I was obsessed with his story and music and still have great hopes to tell his story."

Reports have claimed that after his split in September from his Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams, Ledger was "drinking and taking drugs to excess".

But friends said in recent weeks he spent more time with daughter Matilda and started a relationship with actress Mary-Kate Olsen.

By Tracey O'Sullivan