Abbie Cornish studied addicts

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Abbie Cornish and Heath Ledger spent a week befriending drug addicts.

The Australian star - who starred alongside the late actor in the drug-fuelled romantic drama 'Candy' - decided the pair should take a proactive approach to the 2006 film and so spent seven days on the streets talking to heroin users.

She told Total Film magazine: "For the first two days, we were sitting around a table, talking about scenes and dialogue with writer and director Neil Armfield. Heath and I were going crazy because we were playing two heroin addicts and we were sitting around analysing that? Heath and I were like, 'Neil, we have to get off this table because we're not going to be able to find our characters sitting at a table and pulling apart dialogue.' So for the next week, Heath and I would drive around town and spend time with addicts. I like to be practical and I like to be on the go. I'm a bit hyperactive as an actor, I like to keep moving."

One of the reasons why the 27-year-old beauty didn't mind taking on such a dramatic part is because she enjoys experimenting with different types of roles.

She explained: "I like the idea of experimenting. It's fun to be flexible and try characters that require a different preparation."