Rickman has had a long acting career and has taken on a variety of roles. Audiences will remember him most for his flawless and terrifying portrayals of movie villains. Alan Rickman was a man with a big heart, though, and his generosity knew no bounds.
The details in Rickman’s biography, which highlight how sensitive and considerate he was, left us at Hiptoro very moved.
He was aware that following your dreams is never too late.
Alan Rickman used to daydream about performing on stage. He wanted to be an actor in the theater, but instead, he chose to become a graphic designer to pursue a more secure career. Together with his friends, Rickman ran a prosperous design studio, but over time, Alan came to the conclusion that acting is where his heart truly lies. At the age of 26, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and started his acting career.
Alan entered the acting world rather late; at the age of 42, he received his first significant role in a full-length movie. But that didn’t stop him from starting out as a highly sought-after actor.
He made his flaw into one of his primary strengths.
The fact that Alan Rickman had a crooked jaw from birth greatly affected his speech. Alan had to put a lot of effort into his public speaking as a result: “At drama school, it was the subject of a great deal of criticism and a lot of hard work,” the actor shared.
However, Rickman has been able to use his flaw as a selling point. Scientists have deemed the actor’s renownedly endearing voice to be “one of the most perfect.”
Alan had only ever loved one woman.
Alan Rickman met Rima Horton when he was 19 years old in 1965 and she was 18. She ended up being his one and only girlfriend. The couple had been together for 47 years before getting married in secret in 2012. Alan hardly ever discussed his personal life, but he was overheard saying this about Rima in an interview: “She’s tolerant. She’s incredibly tolerant. Possibly a candidate for sainthood.”
Despite wanting children, he respected his beloved’s decision.
Respect for one another, according to Rickman, is the key to a lasting and fulfilling relationship. Due to this exact reason, he and his wife mutually decided against having children. Although the actor was certain that he and Rima would make wonderful parents, his partner disagreed, and Alan respected her opinion.
“You should remember I am not the only one involved. There is another person here. I would have loved a family. Sometimes I think that in an ideal world, three children… would be dropped on us and we would be great parents.”
He once fulfilled the wish of a young patient who was near death.
Producer of the first three Harry Potter movies Paula DuPré Pesmen related the tale of Alan’s good nature.
Children with terminal illnesses were invited to the set by Paula. One of them was Jay, a 15-year-old with stage 4 neuroblastoma. The young man was excited to be on the Prisoner of Azkaban set, but he really wanted to be in the movie.
Alan Rickman approached them after the producer explained that they couldn’t grant their wish. When he first met Jay, he learned about the youngster’s dream and led him into the group of young actors who were at that time participating in the Boggart scene being shot in Lupin’s classroom. “Jay was very happy that Alan did that for him,” said Paula.
He refused the knighthood.
The kind of person who didn’t give a damn about awards and orders was Alan Rickman. The actor declined to accept the knighthood when he was given the honor of receiving it from Queen Elizabeth II.
He was always there for his pals.
One of Rickman’s friends, journalist Katharine Viner, called attention to the fact that the man had a special quality: he was a true friend who would go above and beyond for those he cared about. On that subject, Katharine recalled a heartwarming incident: “I once asked if a friend, a teacher from Huddersfield, could cook for him so that she could put it on her CV — ’cooked for Alan Rickman’ (it made sense at the time). He not only said yes but acted as her sous-chef and rustled up a top politician and a Hollywood film actress as fellow guests.”
He defended what he held dear.
Alan Rickman was sensitive to any political incorrectness and stood up for his beliefs. For instance, he refused to throw his colleague Bonnie Bedelia to the ground as directed by the script while filming the action movie Die Hard. This plot twist offended and was inappropriate to the actor, he thought.
“My character was very civilised in a strange sort of way and just wouldn’t have behaved like that. Nor would Bonnie’s character, a self-possessed career woman, have allowed him to. It was a stereotype — woman as eternal victim — that they hadn’t even thought about.”
He was extremely humorous.
Alan Rickman was a bit of a mischief maker in real life despite a variety of serious screen roles. He would even play practical jokes on Daniel Radcliffe while filming Prisoner of Azkaban. You probably recall the Great Hall scene where the students are sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor, with Severus Snape and Professor Dumbledore passing by and conversing about a potential Sirius Black attack.
“Alan Rickman decided he would plant one of those fart machines in my, uh, sleeping bag, and they waited until like — the camera had come in for this huge dramatic developing shot, and then unleashed this tremendous noise in the Great Hall,” Radcliffe shared.
He initially failed his driving test for a humorous reason.
Few people succeed on their first attempt at the driving test. Usually, people hit curbs unintentionally or forget to turn on their indicators. Unexpectedly, Rickman managed to fail his test the first time by proceeding through a green light too cautiously.
He provided sound counsel to his younger colleagues.
Alan Rickman was a very talented actor who was frequently asked for advice by other actors. The actress Evanna Lynch revealed that she once had a significant conversation with Alan Rickman.
Rickman provided Evanna with some sound advice after she confided in Alan about some of her concerns: “I told him that I was worried if I didn’t figure myself out quickly I would miss the most important opportunities and never get them back, he simply told me that I was focusing on the wrong thing. He said not to worry about getting ’there’ and instead to focus on feeding my soul and following my heart from place to place.”
He appreciated his fans.
Alan Rickman was sensitive and kind, not only to his friends, family, and coworkers but also to his many fans.
One admirer recalled her pleasant memories of Rickman: “Never met him but have a letter and photo (signed) by him. I sent him a handmade blanket and got a response. He seemed like a very nice person to answer his fans. Miss him.”
Which of Alan Rickman’s films is your favorite?
