Christopher Nolan’s Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
First was Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker often pointed out as the movie’s strength. Ledger brought some unique traits and mannerisms to the character, including a tic in which he constantly licked his lips.
The Joker made his big-screen debut in the 1966 movie Batman, based on the TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, and was played by César Romero. Then came Jack Nicholson’s Jack Napier in Tim Burton’s Batman, considered one of the most loyal interpretations of the character as he captured the essence of the comic book villain quite well. Nolan’s version of the Clown Prince of Crime is a unique version, as he had to fit the style and tone of the movie, thus had to get rid of the character’s comic book-y elements, and instead brought a darker, more psychopath Joker. Ledger’s version was also less polished in of physical appearance, and constantly licked his lips, which became his trademark mannerism, and it wasn’t actually something Ledger planned, instead being something he did out of impulse and necessity.
Although the Joker’s clown makeup was simpler and messier than those of Nicholson and Romero’s versions, Ledger’s version required the use of prosthetics to make his signature facial scars. In the documentary I Am Heath Ledger (via Digital Spy) it’s revealed that, in order to keep the prosthetics in their place as they got loose when he spoke, Ledger had to lick his makeup to keep it in place, and it ended up becoming part of the Joker’s manic personality, as well as his most memorable mannerism. This tic also made the character look menacing and “hungry” for chaos, more so as he tended to stare directly into whoever he was talking to while licking his lips.
When The Dark Knight was released, many fans thought it was an odd choice to have the Joker licking his lips every time he spoke, but it’s proof of the level of Ledger’s craft, as he was able to effortlessly make something practical part of the character. Even though there have already been Joker), Heath Ledger’s version stands as one of the best and darkest adaptations of the character, made unforgettable thanks to the personal touch Ledger gave to the character and the addition of mannerisms like constantly licking his lips.
