Camera captures relaxed star

Pictures of actor Heath Ledger frolicking in Las Vegas with fellow Australian Rose Byrne in 1999 may feature in an exhibition at the WA Museum courtesy of a donation from pop star Miley Cyrus.

Cyrus pipped her fiance Liam Hemsworth with a $22,000 bid on Wednesday night when they went head-to-head at a Hollywood charity auction for the limited edition series of seven photographs by celebrity snapper Rupert Thorpe.

Taken soon after Ledger turned 20, the photographs show the actors in outfits they bought at an op-shop on the way to the shoot. The images capture the Perth-born Ledger's excitement after wrapping up the film Two Hands with co-star Byrne.

WA Museum curators are working with Ledger's family on the exhibition, scheduled for late 2014.

His sister Kate who had been staying with him in Los Angeles in 1999, said the images captured the buzz of the time. "We decided that afternoon we were going to go Vegas with Rose and Gregor (Two Hands director Gregor Jordan) and we all decided to dress up in costume," Ms Ledger said.