The popular series Harry Potter is filled of interesting behind-the-scenes stories and one of the most intriguing characters is Severus Snape.
Alan Rickman received high recognition from every actor he worked with throughout his career, for his commitment to the roles he played and his kindness to his colleagues and friends. Rickman did important work in films such as Die Hard, Love Actually and Sense and Sensibility, but the most remembered is for Severus Snape's role in Harry Potter.
The famous actor of theater and cinema worked as a graphic designer before applying for a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; after graduating, his career was only on the rise. Sadly, Alan Rickman died in 2016 of pancreatic cancer, but he left a priceless legacy and unforgettable memories for all those who knew him.
Gave Daniel A Book
The actor's friends say that he was very generous with them, always paying the restaurant bills or with small details. According to a collection of personal letters made public in 2018, Rickman gave Daniel Radcliffe a copy of The Catcher in the Rye.
The young actor wrote to him in appreciation of the gesture, telling him he was impatient to start reading it. All the letters were auctioned off and included mails from people like J.K. Rowling, Tony Blair, David Heyman and Prince Charles. In Rowling's letter, for example, she praised the actor for doing justice to the most complex character in the Harry Potter books.
Always Surrounded By Children
When they had visitors on the filming set, the actor was always surrounded by a large number of children, demonstrating the generosity and kindness for which he was known. The children were happy to talk and share with the performer, who played one of the most representative characters of the saga.
Although many people get the wrong impression from the roles played by the actors, Rickman was greatly admired for his work. Despite the fact that he could be intimidating, always managed to get his best version, separating himself from Snape and other of his toughest characters that he played during his career and that made him known all over the world.
Rupert Grint Made A Caricature of Alan
True to his personality, he was not bothered when he discovered Rupert Grint drawing a caricature of him. Rickman looked over the shoulder while Rupert sketched, the famous redhead, who played Ron, felt very scared when he saw him, for the reaction he could have, because the drawing was exaggerated by exceeding some characteristics.
In an interview later, Rickman proudly stated that he kept the drawing, and also said that he asked Rupert Grint to sign it. Although the actor could instill fear with Snape clothing and wig, in reality, he was always much more, overflowing with warmth towards those around him.
Advice To Colleagues
The admiration that everyone felt for the actor's career was palpable and he did not hesitate to guide and give advice to his young colleagues, so that they knew how to face the difficult profession they shared. All the actors who were with him in Harry Potter have said that Rickman looked after them and inspired their careers.
Matthew Lewis (Neville) mentioned that he received the best advice on acting from him and will treasure those memories. Daniel Radcliffe remarked that having him around, at a formative age, was essential to his career. Tom Felton (Draco), who considered him a hero, appreciated the conversation during which the actor told him where he got his inspiration and how he wanted to approach the Snape character.
Made The Dream Of A Child With Cancer Come True
The production invited terminally ill children to the set, to meet the actors and see the magic of the place. The whole cast was always very friendly to visitors, but Alan Rickman made it possible for a teenager to be an extra on the set of Prisoner of Azkaban.
Rickman met Jay and was talking to him about films, when the boy mentioned that he really wanted to be in the film, the actor converted to Snape and asked the producers why they hadn't included him in the film. To make it happen, he took him with the other kids to be an extra.
Great Respect For Young Actors
Everyone who worked with Alan Rickman remembers him as a great actor, with a lot of kindness. During the filming of Harry Potter, he shared with many child actors, who admired him for his previous roles, all of them remember that Rickman always treated them as equals during and out of the shoot.
Daniel Radcliffe wrote a moving message paying tribute after the news of Rickman's death. The actor, who grew up playing Harry Potter, described his co-worker as understanding, loyal, supportive, kind, funny and as someone who was always there for his friends. He also highlighted how he always treated him as a partner and not just as a child.
With The iPod In The Great Hall
The actor, wearing a long, bulky cape, hid his iPod to listen to music while filming the scenes in the Great Hall. The wig he had to wear to play Snape also helps him keep his headphones out of sight.
Young actors such as Oliver Phelps (George) and Evanna Lynch (Luna) remember Rickman asking them how to use their iPod, on the days when he received the device as a gift. Actor Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick) jokingly said how he saw Rickman arrive at the table in impressive form, and then the mystery vanished when he discovered the device with which he listened to music.
Method Acting
Alan Rickman was known for being a method actor, with a great involvement in the characters he performed. This made the young actors who worked with him feel intimidated and scared at times, because it was like they were next to Snape, who was quite scary.
Not only the young ones were scared of Rickman's imposing presence playing Severus Snape, the director of the Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, Chris Columbus, said he was intimidated when he met the actor, remembering the role he had played in the movie Die Hard, but after talking to him and seeing him smile, he was able to realize how nice he was.
Got Involved In Designing His Costumes
The actor knew how Snape should be dressed and helped the costume team with the design of his clothes. Rickman felt that he needed a lot of buttons, because, in his mind, he saw Snape buttoning up when he developed the character. He also wanted the sleeves to be tight.
He realized that the whole look was essential to the character's completeness. The moment he put on the costumes, the actor could transform himself into someone else, into Snape. The costume design team didn't make many changes during the production of the films, they just made it a little bigger when the actor went on vacation to Tuscany.
Knew A secret Of Harry Potter
The actor revealed that at the beginning of the role it seemed a bit difficult to know where the character was going, although Rickman never knew the whole story before its publication, the author J.K. Rowling revealed a little secret to him, which made him understand that the character was more, than he showed at first sight.
A few days after Rickman's death in 2016, Rowling said, through Twitter, what was the secret he entrusted to Alan Rickman to understand the character. She explained to him what the word Always meant, with this revelation the actor managed to film knowing about Snape's great love. The writer made him promise never to tell the secret and the actor kept his word, safeguarding the crucial information he had in his possession.