Heath Ledger rushed to Maggie Gyllenhaal's rescue when her skirt caught fire on the set of their new film.

According to the National Enquirer, the pair were shooting The Dark Knight when a special effects generator toppled over and sent flames shooting up Maggie's skirt.

Ledger, who plays The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel, rushed to help his co-star, who was not injured in the blaze.

Gyllenhaal took over Katie Holmes' role of Rachel Dawes in the film, which is due to be released next year.