Michelle Mourns Heath, Asks for Peace

An emotionally wrought Michelle Williams has spoken out for the first time since the unexpected death of former fiancé Heath Ledger, asking fans and media to allow her and Ledger's other loved ones to mourn in peace.

"My heart is broken," the 27-year-old actress said in a statement released Friday through publicist Mara Buxbaum. "Please respect our need to grieve privately."

Williams met Ledger in 2005 while filming Brokeback Mountain. The duo welcomed a daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, later that year.

"I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father," Williams said. "All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day.

"His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time, and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up in the best memories of him."

The statement is the first comment of any kind Williams has made since Ledger was found dead at his SoHo apartment on Jan. 22. An initial autopsy on the 28-year-old onetime Oscar nominee failed to determine a cause of death; an official report is expected in a few weeks, once toxicology testing is complete.

The actress received word of his passing shortly after wrapping up a film shoot in Sweden.

Sources close to the actress said she was "devastated" at the loss and immediately flew back to New York with Matilda, where she met with the Ledger family and attended a viewing. The group later flew to Los Angeles, where a private memorial took place.

Ledger's remains have reportedly since gone on to his hometown of Perth, Australia, where he is expected to be interred.

Producers announced earlier this week that production on Williams' next film, Blue Valentine, is on hold to allow the actress as much time as necessary to mourn.

Shooting on the drama, which costars Ryan Gosling, was originally scheduled to kick off Feb. 25.