When it came to the illustrious adult cast of Harry Potter, it was sometimes difficult to know how much they were there for the film and how much they just enjoyed the fat paycheque. However it appears Alan Rickman for one really cared about what he was doing, and indeed only took the role in the first place because of hints JK Rowling gave him about the direction she was taking the character of Severus Snape.
Rickman wrote a letter to Empire to mark his final day working on the movie. Here’s what he had to say: ‘I have just returned from the dubbing studio where I spoke into a microphone as Severus Snape for absolutely the last time. On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma, and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned from New York, and while I was there, I saw Daniel singing and dancing (brilliantly) on Broadway. A lifetime seems to have passed in minutes.
‘Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the surest of hands.
‘It is an ancient need to be told in stories. But the story needs a great storyteller. Thanks for all of it, Jo.
Alan Rickman’
And you can see the image published in the magazine here.