The finalists for the 6th annual Heath Ledger Scholarship, which honors the best in young Australian talent, were announced Monday.
The scholarship picks the best of the best in the Aussie acting industry to help boost their quest to Hollywood. The 20 finalists (up from the usual 15) are featured in a number of Aussie television shows and films.
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The winner will be announced on June 12 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The chosen actor or actress will take home an impressive amount of prizes, including a grand prize of $10,000 plus a two-year scholarship to the prestigious Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theater, two return trips to Los Angeles via Virgin Australia, a 10-day trip to California, $5,000 worth of Visa and immigration services and a lifetime membership with talent agency StarNow. Two runners-up will also be announced.
Australians in Film produce the scholarship, which was created in honor of the late Heath Ledger. The Australian actor died in 2008 after he wrapped filming of “The Dark Knight.” Before his death, Ledger was an ambassador for AiF.
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The finalists this year, in alphabetical order, include Dominic Allburn, Natasha Bassett, Charlotte Best, Matilda Brown, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Matthew Connell, Jared Daperis, Maeve Dermody, Abby Earl, Cody Fern, Laurence Fuller, Catherine Mack, Jerome Meyer, Tim Pocock, Millie Samuels, Lizzie Schebesta, Toby Wallace, Axel Whitehead, Alex Williams and Remy Hii.