Christian Bale has paid tribute to his Dark Knight co-star Heath Ledger, describing his friend’s final full performance in the new Batman movie as “incredibly intense”.

The actor, who plays the Joker, passed away from an accidental drugs overdose earlier this year, and Bale, who plays Batman, believes the late star’s performance will stamp his reputation as an incredible talent.

Bale tells the new Details magazine: "He (Ledger) was incredibly intense in his performance but incredibly mellow and laidback.

"Certainly there was this great anarchistic streak to it (performance as the Joker) - just getting dirtier than anybody's envisioned the Joker before.

"Naturally it was something I wanted to share with him. I can't do anything else but hope that it will be an absolutely appropriate celebration of his work."