Gemma Ward was Australia's most popular supermodel. Then she disappeared from the spotlight.

Before she had even entered her twenties, Gemma Ward, known for her doe-like eyes, was heralded as the Kate Moss of her era.

Within years, she had gone from a humble Perth schoolgirl to one of the world's top models, living in New York, and parading the clothes of everyone from Valentino to Versace.

In 2004, then editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia, Kirstie Clements, said Ward was "in a different stratosphere".

"She's got that extra thing, that inexplicable thing."

Gemma Ward in 2007. Image: Getty.

That sentiment was echoed by British photographer Nick Knight, who said, "Gemma is one of the very, very few models who look as though they come from another dimension".

But at 20 years old, Ward stepped away from the prying eyes of the public for a deeply personal reason. Now 37, Ward is back to modelling and is a busy mum to three beautiful children.

Here's why the Aussie supermodel made the decision to retreat from her public life, and has since returned to the modelling industry.

Her big break.

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Ward started her modelling career at just 15 years old. But her brush with modelling was an accidental one.

Ward originally wanted to be an actor, but was scouted in 2002, at the age of 14, while accompanying her friends to the Australian modelling competition, Search for a Supermodel.

Ward was just there to support but ended up being scouted herself. While she didn't win the competition, her unique look landed her the attention of a spotter from Vivien's Model Agency.

She made her Australian Fashion Week debut aged 15. Within a year, Ward was in Italy meeting Prada designer Miuccia Prada and went on to become one of the youngest models to appear on the US cover of Vogue.

By the end of 2003, Ward had appeared on the cover of Australian Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue Paris and Vogue Japan.

In 2005, she walked in 20 New York runway shows, and at 17, became the face of Calvin Klein's Obsession Night perfume billboards — following in the footsteps of Kate Moss.

By her 18th birthday, she was one of the world's highest earning supermodels.

Gemma Ward wearing Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 during Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2005. Image: Getty.

Career hiatus.

In late 2007, Gemma Ward began dating legendary actor Heath Ledger, who was also from her hometown of Perth. They had just spent Christmas with each other's families, when on January 22, 2008, Ledger died from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28. They had been dating for just three months.

Shortly after, at the height of her success and aged just 20, Ward made the decision to take a well-earned break after falling into a deep depression.

No one heard from Ward for three years, and then she finally decided to open up about her break from modelling.

"I have taken a break from the media spotlight for the past few years, and it was something spurred by Heath's death," she told The Herald Sun in 2011. "[Heath and I] first met in New York and we were both struggling with things that I won't get into, and we bonded over that."

"I kind of met him at first and said, 'Listen my mum's living with me right now and I'm kind of going through a hard time and I'm not interested in having a serious relationship with somebody right now' and he was like, 'You know, um, let's just be there for each other through these hard times we're both going through'. And we developed a relationship and we started seeing each other."

"There was no one like him — and no one will ever be like him," she reflected. "I'm just so grateful I got to meet him and get as close as I did with him."

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A post shared by Gemma Ward (@gemma)

Motherhood.

Gemma Ward met her next partner, male model David Letts, in 2008 on a Sydney beach. The pair continued dating, spending a lot of time over the years around the Byron Bay area of New South Wales.

In December 2013, the then-25-year-old welcomed her first child, a daughter named Naia, with Letts. The couple retreated to Hawaii for Ward's first birth, in an attempt to avoid unwanted media attention.

In January 2017, they welcomed their second child, a son called Jett.

Then in 2020, the Australian supermodel welcomed her third child, another daughter, called Kirra.

"Little Kirra we all [love] you so much. Thank you for blessing us with your spirit," Ward wrote on Instagram to her over 220,000 followers.

Gemma Ward in 2024. Image: Getty.

Return to modelling.

After a long break, and a few acting roles including in The Great Gatsby, Ward made a welcome-return to the modelling industry in 2018.

“I came back to modelling because I felt in a place where I was accepting of myself and ready to continue my journey and accept opportunities placed in my way,” she shared with Vogue.

“I learned that everything is relative and there are many realities to life and many ways to place value on yourself and life... It’s important to find out what you want and what is important to you and what is your main priority for living your best life on your terms.”

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A post shared by Gemma Ward (@gemma)

As for balancing her modelling duties with motherhood, Ward said: "You have to make sure everyone is on board and obviously the kids come first, but work is pretty important too when you have an obligation to provide for them."

Since then, Ward has walked for the likes of Alexander McQueen, appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia and Vogue Thailand and featured as the face of Zimmerman.

More recently, she's worked with the likes of Tiffany and Co, Burberry, Country Road and shot for Vogue Polska.

She has also graced the silver screen, with roles in the SBS drama, While the Men Are Away and 2024 in ABC's Ladies in Black.

In a recent modelling project, Ward was front and centre with her three children with H&M celebrating love and family for the holidays.

"I never seem to have any photos of me with my kids where we all look nice and are looking at the camera without blinking at the same time. I will cherish these frames forever," she shared on Instagram in November.

Gemma Ward attends an Australian Fashion Week 2024 show. Image: Getty.

Ward's personal life has evidently gone from dizzying highs to deep lows, and she has now seemingly been able to find a happy medium, in which her mental health, modelling duties and motherhood are all a priority.

In a reflection last year, Ward said she feels lucky.

"I've been so blessed," she told MECCA Beauty, discussing her career.

As for motherhood, "it definitely has matured me a lot and it brings me a lot of joy," Ward said.

"I think motherhood teaches you patience, sacrifice, service — those are the biggest lessons."

If she wasn't a model, the star said she dreamed of becoming a writer and director.

"In another universe I'm a ceramic artist. I'm a female Seth Rogan with a CBD gummy company and a line of whacky ceramics — who knows," she joked.

But for now, she's here to stay.

This article was first published in 2020 and has been updated.

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