Maggie Gyllenhaal Blasts Media's 'Disrespect' After Heath Ledger's Death

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL has hit out at the media for their reporting tactics after the death of fellow actor HEATH LEDGER - branding the industry "disrespectful".

The Secretary star blasted journalists for their style of reporting after the tragic death of the Australian actor, insisting she was "shocked" by the way they tackled the sensitive issue.

Gyllenhaal starred opposite Ledger in his final full film, The Dark Knight, in which he stars as Batman's nemesis, The Joker.

And the actress - whose brother, Jake Gyllenhaal, featured alongside Ledger in 2005's Brokeback Mountain - reveals her co-star and friend's untimely death has taken its toll on her.

She tells Britain's Empire magazine, "It's hard to talk about how it's (Ledger's death) affected me personally. It's been really hard for me."

"(And) the media has shocked me with the way that they've been disrespectful in some ways."

Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment in January (08). Toxicology reports released a month later (Feb08) state he was killed by an accidental overdose of prescribed medication.