Naomi Watts has paid tribute to her late ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger on the 10th anniversary of his passing.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts

The 'Brokeback Mountain' star passed away on January 22 2008 after suffering from cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication at the age of 28, and his former partner Naomi - who dated the actor from 2002 to 2004 - has remembered him in a touching social media post.

Posting a professional snap of Heath - who went on to date Michelle Williams, with whom he had a daughter named Matilda, now 12 - Naomi wrote: "Thinking about this beautiful soul today. 10 years ago he left this world. He was a true original. Heart always on his sleeve, with the most powerful charisma, strength, humor and talent. I will never forget his gentle spirit. (sic)"

It comes after Michelle Williams' long time best friend Busy Phillips posted videos on her own Instagram account where she broke down in tears in her car whilst listening to MGMT's hit single 'Time To Pretend', as it reminds her of the 'Dark Knight' star.

She said in the videos: "I was just driving and I was thinking about my friends Heath who died 10 years ago and this song came on, 'Time to Pretend'. It came out after he passed away and I remember when it came out, because [I thought] it made me think of him. I just thought he would have liked this song. And for some reason, every time I hear this song ... it's weird."

Previously, Michelle insisted it "won't ever be right" for her to raise Matilda - who was just two at the time of Heath's passing - without her father.

She said: "In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been.

"In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not have her dad.

"You know, that's just that something doesn't ... I mean, it just won't ever be right."