Alan Rickman’s Diary Reveals Why He Played Snape In ‘Harry Potter’ Despite Cancer Battle

“5am Wake up. 5:4am Driven to the hospital. 6am Pre-op. This is similar a movie set. Nothing seems real,” wrote Alan Rickman on Jan. 5, 2006, according to The Guardian, which published excerpts of Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman earlier the book’s release. Alan, who passed distant successful 2016 owed to pancreatic cancer, spent 2005 undergoing attraction for an assertive signifier of prostate cancer, resulting successful country to region his full prostate. Despite this and earlier intentions to permission the Harry Potter franchise, Rickman committed to playing his quality successful the last films. “Finally, yes to HP 5,” Alan wrote connected Jan. 30, 2006.

“The sensation is neither up nor down,” helium wrote, earlier adding the reasoning down his decision. “The statement that wins is the 1 that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story.'” On Apr. 12, 2006, helium wrote, “I recognize arsenic soon arsenic that [Snape’s] ringing and costume spell connected – thing happens. It becomes alien to beryllium chatty, smiley, open. The quality narrows maine down, tightens maine up. Not bully qualities connected a movie set. I person ne'er been little communicative with a crew. Fortunately, Dan [Radcliffe] fills that relation with easiness and charm. And youth.”

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Rickman attempted to chopped retired earlier the communicative was over. In the introduction listed connected Dec. 4, 2002, Alan wrote that helium had tried to bent up his cloak and wand aft Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. “Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris astir HP exit, which helium thinks volition happen,” wrote Alan. “But present we are successful the project-collision country again. Reiterating nary much HP. They don’t privation to perceive it.”

Thankfully for Potter fans, Alan stuck with the franchise and showed emotion for the magic that the bid was capable to make. “Harry Potter 3. World premiere,” helium wrote connected May 23. 2004. “Arriving astatine Radio City was similar being a Beatle. Thousands of fans screamed arsenic we got retired of cars. Mostly for Daniel Radcliffe but a unreserved for everyone. Not to notation walking retired connected to the signifier to 6,000.”

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“[Director Alfonso Cuarón] has done an bonzer job,” added Rickman.” It is simply a precise grown-up movie, truthful afloat of daring that it made maine grin and smile. Every framework of it is the enactment of an creator and storyteller. Stunning effects that are someway portion of the beingness of the film, not show-off stunts.”

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman volition beryllium released connected Oct. 18, 2022, by Henry Holt and Co.