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Christian Bale broke down at the MTV Movie Awards watching a compilation of scenes featuring his late friend Heath Ledger.

The Batman actor was reduced to tears at the glitzy bash to introduce the film's director Christopher Nolan, who was to present a trailer for the "The Dark Knight Rises."

But Bale found himself unable to speak after watching a montage of Ledger in his role as supervillain The Joker in the second movie, "The Dark Knight."

The 38-year-old actor kept his head down as the audience applauded Ledger, only managing to say: "Wow, great to remember Heath at that moment. Wonderful to see Heath Ledger there."

After taking a moment to compose himself, he was able to return and introduce Nolan, with help from co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman.

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Ledger won praise for his star turn as the maniac Joker, even taking the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor a few months after his early death from an overdose of prescription drugs.