Heath Ledger was a friend: Mary-Kate Olsen

Melbourne, Jan 26 : Actress Mary-Kate Olsen has broken her silence on her relationship with Heath Ledger, insisting the late Oscar winner and she were just friends.

Olsen was the first one to be informed of Ledger's death after the masseuse who discovered him at his New York apartment found her number in his mobile phone and rang her up.

Speculation has since been rife about the relationship between the two stars, but Mary-Kate insists they were just friends.

"Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time," News.com.au quoted her, as saying through her publicist.

Ledger's family is in the meantime, planning to hold a private memorial in New York, Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

A public remembrance has also been proposed for Los Angeles in the coming days, he added.

"I understand there's a private memorial service today for family members. I also understand it's proposed there will be a public memorial service in Los Angeles later this week,'' Mr Smith said.

Ledger died on January 22. He was 28.

ANI