Heath Ledger in 2004

Heath Ledger landed one of his most famous roles with effortless charm — within seconds.

Gil Junger, the director of 10 Things I Hate About You, recalled in an interview last week that he was desperate to find his leading man for the 1999 rom-com, and had already auditioned hundreds of young actors when a then-unknown Heath entered the room.

What happened next, he told Entertainment Weekly, was pure “magic”.

“I’m very picky,” Junger told the outlet. “I had already read 253 guys — 253 guys! And then Marcia Ross, the head of Disney casting, said, ‘Look, this next kid, I don’t know him. It’s a favour for an agent I respect. So if he’s no good, just stop it........

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