The Dark Knight star Michael Caine recalls 'chilling' moment Heath Ledger became The Joker

Sir Michael Caine was "terrified" seeing Heath Ledger as The Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.

The 92-year-old screen legend - who played butler Alfred Pennyworth opposite Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman in the 2008 movie - has reflected on his experience watching Ledger transform into the iconic villain.

He wrote in his memoir 'Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over': "As Alfred says to Bruce, ‘Some men just want to watch the world burn'.

"And that was Heath’s version of the character: the smeared make-up, the weird hair, the strange voice.

"It was chilling. Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action — I was terrified!"

Caine loved working with 'Brokeback Mountain' star Ledger, who tragically died from an accidental overdose aged 27 in 2008.

He recalled: "He was a lovely guy, very gentle and unassuming. I wondered how he was going to play the Joker, especially as Jack Nicholson’s take had been so iconic.

"Brilliantly, Heath ramped up the character’s psychotic side rather than going for one-liners. His Joker was deeply, deeply warped and damaged, though you never find out exactly why, or what he’s really looking for."

Caine also reflected on the close bond between Ledger and Bale on 'The Dark Knight' - which was directed by Christopher Nolan - while the 'Knight's Tale' actor's performance made sure everyone rose to his level.

He said: "He and Christian [Bale] were good friends and always having fun together. And then he was transformed into this scheming monster, driving a whole city towards mayhem.

"Looking back, I think Heath’s excellence made all of us raise our game.

"The psychological battle between the Joker and Batman is completely riveting. Are they in any way the same? What nudges one man to do good, and the other to do evil?

"The Joker wants to torment Bruce by convincing him that they’re two of a kind."

Ledger received a posthumous Academy Award for his performance as the Joker, and Caine has admitted the whole cast and crew on 'The Dark Knight' were pulling for him to secure an Oscar even before his death.

He said: "The truth is, we’d all hoped he would win an Academy Award and thought he should, even while we were still filming the movie.

"So it was just a very sad thing that he wasn’t around to accept it in person.

"It’s a performance for the ages, and even though his career was cut short so soon, he’ll be remembered as a great actor, I believe."

Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield - who met Ledger shortly after filming wrapped on 'The Dark Knight' - recalled how immensely proud he was of the project.

Speaking on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast last year, Garfield said: "He was so smug about it. I was like, ‘How did that go?’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, it’s really good'."