Alan Rickman: Unveiling the reluctant hero behind severus snape

When Alan Rickman's diaries were released in 2023, the world got to know him a bit better. It turned out how generous he was and how much he could give to others. And... that he was not the biggest fan of the film series in which he was a major star!

Alan Rickman passed away in January 2016, shortly before his 70th birthday. He kept a diary almost until the very end of his life. The last entries grew shorter and concerned his health. For example, the one from October 2015 read only: "Blood transfusion." However, the diaries kept since 1995 are full of memories, reflections, and insights into what kind of person he was. As critics noted, reading the Diaries is like talking to a friend.

One of the most distinctive characters Rickman played in his career was Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series. Today, fans can't imagine a better actor for the role. Gloomy, menacing, electrifying. However, it's no secret that Rickman was critical of these films and often wanted to leave the cast. Despite this, the actor remained in the wizarding film series until the end, appearing in eight films until the series concluded in 2011. His interpretation of the character Snape – a hero with a highly complex soul – brought him immortal fame.

In the diaries, the actor wrote that while it was nice to spend time on set, especially since there were so many actors and actresses he knew in the films, it all "seemed never-ending." He didn’t keep his desire to leave the project a secret, discussing it with agents and production. "I kept saying, 'No more HP.' They didn't want to hear it," he recounted in the diary about these discussions.

However, it wasn’t the production pressure that ultimately made fans see the great actor in all parts. Behind it, in fact, was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. She revealed to him that his character, Snape, was in love with the wizard's mother – Lily. "That was the piece I could hold onto," Rickman noted.

Specifically, the film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" from 2009 and the scene in which Snape kills Dumbledore when Draco Malfoy can't do it. Snape had once promised Draco’s mother that he would protect her son. The actor felt that the scene lacked drama. He blamed the script, which had to extend the narrative a bit. "We don't know or remember enough about the characters to care about them," he wrote in the journal, suggesting that there were too many characters for the audience to remember all of them.

It turns out that Rickman insisted on cutting one line from the script. "I think the words 'I promised, I swore an oath' could confuse viewers who didn't remember the earlier plot," he wrote. And indeed, those words are not in the film's final version.

Alan Rickman, a renowned British stage and film actor, was for many years associated mainly with villainous roles. His most memorable roles include the Sheriff of Nottingham in the film "Robin Hood" and Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. Many fans still love his role in "Die Hard," where he played Hans Gruber.

Rickman was born on February 21, 1946, in London as one of four siblings. His father died when he was still a child. Young Alan showed a talent for art and initially planned a career as a graphic designer. He studied at the Chelsea College of Art and Design and then at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. After graduating, he co-founded a design studio in Soho with his friends.

The studio was doing well, and it seemed that nothing more was needed for the happiness of the young graphic designer. However, at the age of 26, Rickman decided to try his hand at acting. He auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, was accepted, and began three years of acting studies.

His stage debut was an adaptation of the play "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." He then began appearing on television, playing, among others, Tybalt in the BBC's adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" in 1978. He also appeared in mini-series such as "Therese Raquin," "Smiley’s People," and "The Barchester Chronicles."

Rickman's first major film role was as the terrorist Hans Gruber in the action film "Die Hard" with Bruce Willis. This role marked the beginning of a series of villainous roles, including the land-owning titan in the western "Quigley Down Under," a sadistic policeman in the thriller "Closet Land," and the memorable Sheriff of Nottingham in the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Rickman won numerous awards and nominations for his roles, including the London Critics Circle Film Award.

In 1992, Rickman starred in the satirical comedy "Bob Roberts." He then appeared in three biographical films: "Mesmer," "Michael Collins," and "Rasputin." He received numerous awards for his roles, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award.

Rickman often collaborated with Emma Thompson. They appeared together in films like "Judas Kiss," "Love Actually," and "The Winter Guest." The latter film was also Rickman's debut as a director and screenwriter.

The last years of Rickman's film career were dominated by the role of Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series. He played this role in all the films about the young wizard's adventures.

In the meantime, Rickman appeared in many other films, such as "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," "Snow Cake," and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

In 2008, Rickman starred in the film "Bottle Shock" alongside Bill Pullman. For this role, he received his second Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Despite his film successes, Rickman never forgot about the theater. He often turned down film roles to perform on stage. He was twice nominated for the prestigious Laurence Olivier Theatre Award and once for the American Tony Award.

For over 40 years, Rickman was in a relationship with one partner, his school sweetheart, Rima Horton.