Heath Ledger talks 'Four Feathers'

Ledger on "The Four Feathers": "And I'm very proud, because it reflects that time I spent out there in the desert and the friends I made."

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ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- "The Four Feathers" is the latest film starring Australian actor and heartthrob Heath Ledger. He first caught the eye of American audiences in "Ten Things I Hate About You" and then he later went on to star in "A Knight's Tale."

CNN anchor Daryn Kagan talked to Ledger in Atlanta on Monday about his latest film, also starring former Oscar nominee Kate Hudson.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Tell us the premise of the plot. This is a remake. It think it has been done six or seven times before.

HEATH LEDGER, ACTOR: Four times.

Actress Kate Hudson plays Ledger's love interest in "Feathers."

Basically, it is a movie of self discovery. The premise is this for "The Four Feathers": My character is handed these feathers and they signify an act of cowardice. His act of cowardice, his friends thought, was the fact that he decides not to go to war with them and fight in the Sudan. They send him the feathers, and he decides to go off to the Sudan and hand them back his feathers and reclaim his dignity.

KAGAN: Let's just review. This is a big period piece.

LEDGER: Yes.

KAGAN: Historical. I understand there is also a big father-son theme that goes through this.

LEDGER: Yes, there are a ton of things. It is really hard to sum it up in one sentence.

'Patriot' recognition

Ledger plays a British officer fighting to reclaim his honor in "Feathers."

KAGAN: But this kind of sounds like "The Patriot," if I think historical and father-son. Is that just coincidence?

LEDGER: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. End of that. But that was a positive thing, working with Mel Gibson.

LEDGER: Yes, I loved working with him.

KAGAN: That's the first time I think that a lot of Americans became familiar with you. ... What else are you working on right now?

LEDGER: Well, nothing. I'm just doing all of the promotion for this film. But there is a movie coming out in January called "Sin Eater," and there's a movie I just finished in Australia called "Ned Kelly," which comes out in March. So until then, I'm just doing this.

Changing appearance

KAGAN: So if you look at the different pieces that you've done, like "The Patriot," and "The Fourth Feathers," "Monster's Ball" -- When people found out that you were Billy Bob Thornton's son in the movie, I think people didn't realize that was you. You have kind of a different look as you go along, including this current look. What is this current look about?

Ledger's character disguises himself as an Arab to help save his regiment in "Feathers."

LEDGER: I had to chop it all off for "Ned Kelly" for a couple of scenes at the top of the movie where I come out of jail. [In the film] I was supposed to have lost complete identity. I like it though.

KAGAN: Can I just tell you I sometimes get help around here at CNN. For some reason for this segment a strange number of women asked to help out with the Heath Ledger segment.

LEDGER: Where are they?

Quirky hometown tradition

KAGAN: They're in the background. They're lurking. We will find them for you. ... A lot of people might pick up on your accent because sometimes you drop it for certain movies. But we should mention that you are from Perth, Australia. I want to see if you can help me explain this. Apparently, a man in Perth had a homemade cannon and it exploded; it showered him with metal and shrapnel. Is this a Perth tradition, a homemade cannon?

LEDGER: Building cannons. Yes, on every second Sunday of the month.

KAGAN: That's why you had to get out.

LEDGER: Yes.

KAGAN: Give me your biggest push of why people should go see "The Four Feathers."

LEDGER: It is just a beautiful, beautiful piece. It is a very mature story of love and friendship. And I'm very proud, because it reflects that time I spent out there in the desert and the friends I made. And it really is a beautiful epic journey. That's about it. You will figure it out when you get into the cinema.

KAGAN: Love, friendship and Heath Ledger -- really, what woman could ask for more?

LEDGER: Thank you.

KAGAN: Good luck with the movie.