Melbourne, Jan 2 : Late Aussie actor Heath Ledger, who has been nominated for a posthumous Oscar, has taken the lead in an Internet poll in the US, along with his blockbuster, `The Dark Knight'.

Ledger was selected in many categories, marking him as the choice for the best supporting actor gongs at the two big pre-Oscar award ceremonies, the January 11 Golden Globes and the January 25 Screen Actors Guild Awards, reports News. com. au.

The MovieFone poll revealed that Ledger''s early death had a huge impact on the American public, with 56 per cent of voters naming him the Most Missed Star, well ahead of screen icon Paul Newman, who was in second place with 20 per cent.

The poll named Ledger as the Best Villain, after he got 86 per cent of the votes, and he was also named as the Most Missed Star.

His death was The Biggest News Story of 2008, and The Dark Knight topped the poll for Best Movie and Best Action Movie.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 22 and the winners revealed on February 22. (ANI)