Excerpts from a diary written by the late actor Alan Rickman reveal what he really thought about his “Harry Potter” costars, directors, and even legendary score-composer John Williams.
According to The Guardian, Rickman kept a diary of sorts as early as 1972 — but only really got serious about making detailed entries some 20 years later. From 1992 until his death of pancreatic cancer in 2016, Rickman churned out 26 volumes — some illustrated — which were condensed and curated into a book due out in October.
The book, titled “Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman,” features a series of diary entries written by the actor — who played the role of potions-master Severus Snape throughout the film series based on J.K. Rowling’s books — over the course of his decades-long career.
Alan Rickman, who brought Hogwarts potions master Severus Snape to life across eight “Harry Potter” films, wrote down his most unfiltered thoughts about the franchise – no veritaserum required. https://t.co/iiFF3AYAk3
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) September 26, 2022
In the diaries, Rickman noted the day he “said yes to HP” — August 23, 2000 — and the fact that he began reading the books shortly after accepting the role. He then detailed his initial costume fittings and his first conversation with Rowling about the role.
21 September
HARRY P TAKES OFF.
10.30am Car to costume fitting/discussion. Measurements from hell after a month in Italy. Waltz around each other – higher collar? Blue fabric? Thinner arms? And off to Leavesden Studios. Chris Columbus [director], David Heyman [producer], Makeup dept waiting. Wig? Nose?6 October
First conversation with Joanne Rowling. Her sister answers – “She’s not here – can I leave a message?” [There is] cackling in the background … “Sorry about that! … ” [I tell her:] “There are things that only Snape & you know – I need to know … ” “You’re right [she replies] – call me tomorrow; no one else knows these things.”
Other entries detailed what he thought of specific actors he worked with — from complaints about their pronunciation (Emma Watson) to predicting that they might go on to direct (Daniel Radcliffe) — and of others who worked on the film series.
“I still don’t think he’s really an actor but he will undoubtedly direct/produce,” Rickman said of Radcliffe, praising his as “sensitive, articulate, and smart.”
“These kids need directing. They don’t know their lines,” he complained during the filming of the third movie, “The Prisoner of Azkaban.” Of Emma Watson — who played Hermione Granger — he complained that her pronunciation was “this side of Albania at times.”
Of the films, Rickman favored “The Prisoner of Azkaban” — saying of director Alfonso Cuarón’s work, “It is a very grown-up movie, so full of daring that it made me smile and smile. Every frame of it is the work of an artist and storyteller.”
His least favorite was the sixth film — “The Half-Blood Prince.” He complained in one entry: “The desire to eat and even more get a drink is matched only by the need to bang the three Davids’ heads against the nearest wall. I get the character development and the spiffing effects (dazzling), but where is the story????”
The “three Davids” he referenced were producers producers David Heyman and David Barron, and director David Yates.
Rickman also referred to the score of the first film, “The Sorcerer’s Stone” — written by veteran film composer John Williams — as “hideous.”