17 years after The Dark Knight was released, Michael Caine recalls being “floored” and “terrified” by Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker

Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight is one for the ages. He perfectly captured the sinister, unpredictable nature of Batman’s arch-nemesis, defining the villain for years to come. He was so good, Michael Caine became genuinely scared of him while filming.

Looking back on Christopher Nolan’s monumental Batman film for his memoir, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, Caine recounted Ledger’s aura. “The smeared makeup, the weird hair, the strange voice. It was chilling,” he says, per NME. “Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action – I was terrified.”