January 14 marks exactly 5 years since the world lost its greatest actor – Alan Rickman . Many fans still cannot recover from the loss, paying tribute to his memory by reviewing films with his participation. However, we are personally surprised by the fact that even those who know the actor’s lines by heart can tell practically nothing about his personal life. But she was no less exciting than the cult roles.
We have collected the most interesting facts from the life of the Harry Potter star that will make you fall in love with the legendary actor even more (if that is even possible).
The life of the beautiful and talented Alan Rickman
I dreamed of becoming a designer
It’s hard to believe, but Alan Rickman did not plan to get into the film industry, but since childhood he dreamed of becoming a designer. The actor lost his father early, when he was barely eight. Therefore, he could only rely on his own strength and determination. The efforts bore fruit – Alan was accepted into an elite London school, where he was among the scholarship recipients. There he first appeared on stage as a participant in an amateur performance.
But Rickman decided to connect his life not with the theater at all, but with design skills. Therefore, after graduating from school, he went to art college. Then, together with friends, he opened his own graphic design studio , but the business failed. I’m ashamed to admit, we’re even happy about it. After all, if he had continued his craft, we would not have known about Alan as a great actor.
First filming and meager fees
Fate itself ordered me to try my hand at acting – and Alan Rickman decided not to resist. At the age of 26 he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Soon the public noted the talent of the aspiring artist, calling the talented young man a rising star . At one of the performances on Broadway, where Alan played the main role, he was noticed by the producers of Die Hard . They invited him to audition and advised him to seriously think about working in the film industry.
“ I was given the role because I was “cheap . ” Since they promised Bruce Willis seven million dollars, the other actors had nothing to pay ,” the actor later admitted.
Nevertheless, the role of Hans Gruber opened the door to big cinema for Alan. Despite the fact that his character was recognized as one of the most sinister characters of all time , he was always sweet and kind on the set. Moreover, during filming, he refused to throw the main character of the film on the floor, considering this act inappropriate, and flinched every time he was shot.
The role of Severus Snape
Since then, the actor has been famous for his charismatic and frightening roles. However, perhaps the most famous and beloved character by millions remains Severus Snape from the series of films about “the boy who lived.” It is noteworthy that even his young colleagues on the set were frightened by his appearance and the special manner of his acting . However, the leading actor of Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, keeps only warm memories of Alan: “He was very kind, cheerful, supported us in every possible way and even treated the child actors with great respect . ”
JK Rowling’s big secret that only Alan Rickman knew
None of the cast knew that the supporter of dark forces was actually a double agent who was secretly protecting Harry Potter. To the one and only Alan Rickman, the writer revealed the secret of Severus Snape’s bitterness towards the surviving boy, whose mother he loved all his life, despite the fact that she preferred another man. And I was right! This helped the actor get into the role even more . So much so that colleagues on the set were surprised and asked Rickman why he played scenes with Potter in a certain way. Well, he answered mysteriously that he knew something that was still unknown to others.
“After so many years?” – “Always”
Like Severus Snape, the actor loved only one woman all his life . Alan Rickman met his partner in college, when he was only 19 years old. The beloved was far from the world of cinema, and later taught economics to students at Kingston University. However, this did not stop the young people from falling in love with each other once and for all.
“My wife is a candidate for sainthood ,” the actor joked.
But the couple was in no hurry to get married, tying the knot only in 2012. Imagine, almost 47 years after we met! Judging by the actor’s words, the ceremony was incredibly modest : “It was really wonderful, since there was no one else there. After exchanging rings in New York, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and then had a hearty lunch . “
In addition, the actor never boasted of money or good deeds. And the actor had perhaps even more of the latter than the former. Thus, he actively provided assistance to those in need and supported aspiring actors who found themselves in difficult situations. Alan Rickman also hid a terrible disease , which he struggled with for several months, and eventually lost to. He was just five weeks shy of his 70th birthday.
