Movie-goers caught their first sight of Alan Rickman in 1988 within the motion thriller Die Arduous. On the age of 42, antediluvian by Hollywood requirements, he was solid as Hans Gruber, a Teutonic terrorist who has seized management of a Los Angeles skyscraper and brought hostages. Appearing reverse Bruce Willis’s NYPD detective, Rickman stole the present together with his devil-may-care interpretation of a psychopath and obtained a deluge of plaudits.
Till then his profession had largely been cast in Britain, most notably – after Rada and an apprenticeship in repertory theatre – on the Royal Shakespeare Firm, the place he stood out in performs corresponding to Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Following Die Arduous, he was in fixed demand for the large display. First got here the 1990 romantic comedy Actually, Madly, Deeply, with Juliet Stevenson, subsequent Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, during which he was unforgettable because the Sheriff of Nottingham.
It was post-Robin Hood that Rickman started protecting his diary in earnest. What follows is an edited account of his subsequent few early years on display, pre-Harry Potter, and a return to the stage reverse Helen Mirren in Antony and Cleopatra.
Alan Taylor, editor of the Diaries
1994
8 March
First day [filming in Dublin] on An Awfully Massive Journey.
9 March
Afternoon and night we deliberate tomorrow’s mattress scenes and shot the primary kiss. Georgina [Cates] courageous and centered.
10 March
All morning bonking (display sort), humping, exhausting. Life undoubtedly not mirroring artwork – if anyone had intercourse in that place they might break their wrists second day out.
12 March
Hangover.
3pm Motorcycle lesson. 20 minutes to find clutch management on one thing that jogs my memory of an enormous harmful horse.
29 March
Beryl Bainbridge [author of An Awfully Big Adventure] arrives. Caught napping along with her.
6 April
Good day to Prunella Scales – detailed, sophisticated actress and the individual is gradual to disclose herself, too. Like persuading some petals to open a bit extra. There's quite a lot of self-containment on this set. Ms Scales, Mike N, The Diva [Georgina Cates], me …
8 April
My shot of the day. Stroll up a number of steps. Cease. Flip. Look. Look away. The best duties could make you're feeling like an unoiled robotic.
18 April
Lunch on the set. A final-dayish ambiance. Then to the aquarium. Freezing water and, surprisingly sufficient, very moist; a frogman grabbing my ankles; eyes open; blood on the brow; staring. It takes some time.
19 April
10.45 → flight to London.
An general ache is growing, not emotional, only a response to the aquarium dunking.
22 April
8pm Ruby [Wax]’s party.
Carrie Fisher is there, humorous and quick. Jennifer Saunders, Ade Edmondson, Zoë Wanamaker, Joanna Lumley, John Classes. Somebody asks Jennifer S what she does. The inevitable late evening row …
11 Might
Labour celebration European gala dinner. John Smith, Robin Prepare dinner, Tony Blair all say good day. Many an encounter, many a speech. Gordon Brown wanting sooo bored.
12 Might
John Smith is lifeless. Final evening I spoke with him. Everyone knows he would have been an awesome chief. His competence and humour and quiet power didn’t promote newspapers till they grew to become his epitaph.
1 August
Meet Fiona [Shaw] & Deborah [Warner] – one of many main horrible twos within the artwork world. Hildegard [Bechtler] joins and we’re on the practice to Glyndebourne. Once you get there – there all of it is – a little bit of little Olde England nonetheless determinedly placing out its collapsible chairs, sandwiches, champagne. I saved pondering “somebody with a machine gun will seem any minute”.
15 October
To Ruby [Wax] and Ed [Bye, her husband] for a short glimpse of Ruby’s interview with Madonna. However who’s doing all of the speaking? Guess.
25 November
Thanksgiving celebration at Sandra & Michael Kamen [American composer]’s. All I wished was an autograph e-book – Kate Bush, Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Stevie Winwood.
1995
8 February
Emma Thompson telephones [about Sense and Sensibility]. OK I’m [going to] meet him [Ang Lee].
13 February
Discuss to Emma. “Her individuals” and “my individuals” now.
18 March
3pm To Ang Lee. He will get the Sensibility, what’s the Sense? Learn how to play, how you can shoot Brandon, “the one sturdy man within the story”. I mentioned: “I’ll be doing it, you’ll simply should shoot it.”
6 April
Dublin. 8pm Irish premiere [of An Awfully Big Adventure]. Really feel like an elder statesman studying the letter from Mike [Newell].
7 April
10am Wandering the Dublin streets earlier than getting again to the Shelbourne for 11am to seek out – ! – Neil Jordan and Stephen Woolley re The Massive Fella [eventually named Michael Collins]. Will I do it [play Eamon de Valera]? Shed some pounds? What different commitments?
25 April
Collected [at Plymouth station]. 20 minutes drive to the placement [for Sense and Sensibility]. At lunchtime the trailer fills up with Imogen Stubbs, Gemma Jones, Emma Thompson – Imogen & Emma all Austened-up. Gemma in climbing boots … Spend the pm doing hair and make-up. Someplace round 8 we do the required rise up, sit down, look left, look proper in a considerably tight ambiance, to not point out coat. Gently humiliating.
26 April
9.35 Practice again to London.
Nonetheless feeling faintly depressed by yesterday. A lot consideration to “The Look”. What about “The Content material”? And what about making a working setting with Ang – who, studying between the already obvious strains, is used to “conducting” his actors, somewhat than nurturing.
2 Might
A 6.15 get up for my very first day on Sense and Sensibility. Make-up and hair turns into a delicate negotiation – hair, particularly. Heated rollers finally win. Kate W wanting so lovely in her gilded marriage ceremony robe. Emma T along with her eyes all over the place. Harriet W & I uncool sufficient to confess simply having fun with being right here.
Drinks within the bar at 8pm – Emma, Imelda, Hugh L[aurie], Hugh G[rant], Gemma Jones, Harriet, Kate W. Hugh G his traditional snappy, sharp, acid self. In to dinner with 2 x Hugh, Harriet & me. The dialog strikes away from gossip and we discuss of British & US movie manufacturing. Hugh Laurie seems to be an motion film freak. Hugh G is fascinated by figures, charges, %.
4 Might
I’m starting to get the cling of Ang.
9 Might
Emma’s hazard is of understanding every part. She will be able to’t, nobody can.
10 Might
And one other day not known as. Lunch on the set. Then into boots and breeches and off to the stables.
12 Might
One other 7.30 get up. One other day not getting used. The solar shines. They do one thing else.
13 Might
7am name – and eventually I’m on … Because it seems the scene turns into a nightmare of rushed choices, manipulations, too many seems to be. It isn’t thought by means of so time is wasted … Which signifies that performing is out the window … I finish the day feeling humiliated and offended – however I can’t present it.
19 Might
Sunday am. I'm reminded, watching Emma with crew, director, producers, fellow actors, of a younger woman arranging her dolls in her faux classroom.
26 June
7.20am pick-up to go to Heathrow and Dublin [for Michael Collins].
As I bought out of the automobile [in Dublin], there may be Julia Roberts, her waist is the most encirclable. Upstairs to seek out Liam [Neeson] & Aidan [Quinn]. Neil Jordan arrives a couple of minutes later – all of us sit down and discuss by means of the de Valera scenes. Neil is his traditional jitterbugging self – like a grasshopper nipping from subject to subject.
29 June
To Shepperton [for Sense and Sensibility] … After all, the set, the newspapers, the TV and all over the place is obsessive about Hugh Grant and his Sundown trick … [he was arrested in LA with a sex worker] So many column inches, so many different issues we must always concern ourselves with. The scenes really feel as if they're being ticked off now … Ang appears nervous. He in all probability wants a hug. Like Hugh.
8 August
To … Dublin. And the Shelbourne. Catch-up-fast time. Rent a video recorder, learn the books, get underneath Dev’s pores and skin. Hopefully.
9 August
8.45 pick-up → the set … The reconstruction of O’Connell Avenue is sort of good. Put up Workplace, Mansion Home, cobbles and – frighteningly – the platform for Dev’s speech. All day the crowds develop and develop – hearsay has it that 2,000 extra had been despatched house. That leaves 2–3,000 inside all gazing me since Neil [Jordan] involves announce that the speech is first. Is it his nerves that makes him query the hair, the costume, the accent, the every part???
In the long run he’s joyful and we simply do it. No rehearsal. Simply do it.
10 August
Photograph name for the Irish press. Julia Roberts a mite pissed-off at being saved ready …
22 August
Kilmainham Gaol. Two minutes in one of many cells and I’m beginning to get anxious – what should it have been like? They had been all so proud to die. They knew when it was coming [and] what it was for. That is starting to really feel like one thing I simply have handy myself over to – it should deal with itself. Hidden forces are very sturdy.
12 September
Evening shoot at Kilmainham. Sandy Powell [costume designer] has made Dev a fetching coat and bonnet for his Lincoln jail escape. Stephen Woolley says the rushes are nice. That is one man (of few phrases usually) who I consider.
19 September
1.30 pick-up. By means of the Wicklow mountains to Glenmalure and a thatched cottage by a stream. For the primary time Dev in a scene with the “Contemporary-Confronted Child” ie Jonathan [Rhys Meyers, playing De Valera’s assassin] who’s on his third film this yr, performs flute, tin whistle and drums, has simply returned from backpacking in Vietnam and is, in fact, additionally impossibly handsome …
21 September
… 6pm pick-up.
One other lump of Eire commandeered for the Pub and Hayrick [scene]. The city stays up all evening to see it. Finally, my shot is at 4am. Possibly it’s simply as effectively. The shivering is pretty genuine by then. Mattress at 7am.
12 October
9.30 Automobile to Goldcrest to loop Sense and Sensibility. Good to see Ang. Emma arrives at 2pm. The persevering with conundrum. Lovable, affectionate and by some means starring each day within the film of her life …
31 December
To satisfy Liam [Neeson] & Natasha [Richardson] for what seems to be an exquisite, chatty, pleasant lunch – Liam has seen Michael Collins and loves it so – ONWARD. To Lee Grant [American actor]’s apt at 11.45pm – large room, a number of individuals (together with G Paltrow & Brad Pitt) stand round, maintain glass, smile, chat, go away.
1996
22 January
Watch S&S in rising dismay. It has been minimize to focus solely on the ladies’s journey – the lads are senseless. Unhappy – we must always care who they're marrying.
14 February
Academy nominations for Emma & Kate yesterday however not Ian [McKellen], nor Nicole Okay. Loopy days.
18 February
12 midday Isabelle Huppert’s lunch on the Ivy upstairs. 34? individuals spherical the attractive oval desk. The sort of day you would like would go on and on … the room stuffed with echoes. Particularly of ladies I've performed reverse – and as I go searching – Juliet [Stevenson], Fiona [Shaw], Paola [Dionisotti], Harriet [Walter], Saskia [Reeves], Deborah [Warner], Beatie [Edney], Zoë [Wanamaker], Gillian [Barge], Anna [Massey] – it's a supply of pleasure.
21 February
2am Judy Hofflund [Rickman’s agent] calls from LA for an early Comfortable Birthday.
The difficulty with this job is you can watch your self & your folks rising older in full color, shut up. Flip a swap to rewind or quick ahead.
6.30 The automobile is right here and by 6.45 we’re on the way in which to the Curzon Mayfair for Sense and Sensibility premiere which is an effective distraction from the birthday … Outdated pals in new frocks, line-up for Prince Charles (inform him he ought to have performed my half) and in to the movie. Horrible sound however cuts aside it’s a ravishing piece of labor.
2 June
9ish To Searcy’s for Brian Cox’s party. All human performing was there.
11 December
7pm To Nicole Farhi’s Christmas celebration … David Hare has not a lot softened as melted with the wedding and now the fortunate sod is off to Peru & Colombia for Christmas.
1997
14 July
7pm Competition Corridor for Guardian’s summer time celebration. Completely fascinating. Levels of leglessness unknown apart from to journalists.
1998
18 January
Golden Globes. Film stars in vastly costly attire they will solely put on as soon as; name-dropping on an enormous scale at … the CAA celebration – Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon (I used to be pretty drunk, grabbing his lapels to inform him he’s a extremely, no actually good actor), Minnie Driver, Lauren Bacall, Shirley MacLaine (she cherished The Winter Visitor, my hero), Winona Ryder, Joan Cusack (squished in a carry – may we work collectively?), Kevin Kline. Giving the Golden Globe to Alfre Woodard was BEST!
18 March
[Filming of Kevin Smith’s Dogmain Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]
11 Costume becoming. Versace guidelines. 3pm Learn with Linda Fiorentino … She’s every part she seems to be and sounds – smoky, darkish, a coming-on disposition. Someplace within the center Ben Affleck crashes in, later Matt Damon. The room is abruptly stuffed with baseball caps, popping cans of water/iced tea/no matter, peeling oranges, potato chips, cigarette smoke. We bungee-jump our means by means of the script.
30 April
A rehearsal. Linda asks for 2 strains out of 5. Has she appeared on the scene aside from on the drive in? I'm catapulted right into a darkish and frowning place – silent with resentment at having to work solo. Once more. And so – an extended day with a scene that’s all about prosthetics and 80lb wings. Ache versus focus. And nonetheless Linda blows her strains.
9 Might
Someplace on the way in which again to the resort, I felt a well-recognized knife-like ache in my decrease again. The wings have caught up with me.
13 Might
To the hospital for X-rays. Happily, no disc issues however muscle spasms are eased by a brace (which I in all probability ought to have been sporting with the wings anyway).
30 Might
To the Star Lake auditorium [near Pittsburgh] to stroll on water. Which all works high-quality aside from the by now predictable 3am when the digicam comes spherical, and my mind is frying gently. However there’s a vaguely celebratory ambiance, the lake lit superbly and as daybreak broke we drank some champagne within the make-up trailer and mentioned goodbyes.
6 June
7.30 Wangle my means on to Concorde. Hooray. Ivana Trump provides a little bit of sprint sitting in entrance of me simply the place I can watch her checking her press clippings, wanting by means of itineraries after which somewhat touchingly wanting lengthy & arduous at images of family members earlier than placing them again in her pockets.
4 August
That’s it. I’m doing it. Antony and Cleopatra. NT. Helen M[irren]. Sean M[atthias]. Reduction.
19 August
5.30 First run (phrases) of Act 1. An excessive amount of performing from me …
28 August
TO ALASKA! [for Microsoft founder Paul Allen’s party]. This yr’s visitor record included – Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, James Cameron, Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan, Jeff Goldblum, Candice Bergen, Annabeth Gish, Ed Begley, Dave Stewart, Deepak Chopra, Noel Redding, Dan Aykroyd, Robin Williams, Patti Smith, Jennifer Saunders, Ade Edmondson, Clare Peploe, Douglas Adams, Quincy Jones, Carrie Fisher, and so forth, and so forth. All blended up with scientists, architects and Belfast members of the family.
1 September
RETURN FROM ALASKA.
11.30 (Managed some sleep) … Automobile again house. Change. On to NT arrive 3pm. Straight into studying Act 3
7 September
First day of transferring the play. By late afternoon – alarm bells. Some terribly demonstrated work and dangerous verse talking. The set proving to be awkward.
23 September
These have been troublesome days, operating scenes with that terrible greedy sense of the textual content. So – no impetus inside. Textual content being chopped each which means, so no impetus exterior.
28 September
Run by means of Act 3. Ohmigod.
5 October
7pm First run – Act 1. Sean’s joyful. It looks like a multitude to me. Aside from Helen who's free, inventive and flying.
8 October
Hungover in a serious means.
3pm The Tech begins. Memorable second within the wings as Helen says: “I’m so joyful ... all I dreamed of as a woman was to be a queen in an enormous theatre …”
10 October
Like a automobile crash we get previous the interval and on into the second half. My questions are getting bigger & extra pressing. The place is the music? The place will the story be? Again and again the place is the exactness?
17 October
1.30 First matinee.
Someplace round 6.25 … Sean is available in, wanting wired. For some motive he was on the assault. “Wouldn't it damage you to point out some fucking appeal?” I used to be shocked, mentioned don’t converse to me like that, simply give me the notes, that is the primary time you’ve talked about this, I’m piecing the half collectively and so forth, and so forth. As I write this I’m nonetheless bewildered. Had individuals been nagging him? What? Ian McK & Charlotte Cornwell got here spherical having cherished it. Had been they despatched too?
18 October
A day of relative stillness, Sleep. Newspapers. Planet Natural. Cappuccino. Ironing the odd shirt. Answering mail. Cooking supper. Pondering. Pondering. Rima, blessedly and unsentimentally, with me.
20 October
7pm Press evening.
As per traditional every part heightened. Later to Soho Home.
21 October
After which the morning quietness which implies the press shouldn't be good. Finally I hear the tentative messages and get the image.
25 October
One other heavy silence hangs over the gray, gray day … By now this implies solely extra dangerous [Sunday] press … OK – on by means of the subsequent six weeks.
26 October
7pm These are the powerful reveals. Everybody is aware of what has been mentioned. Nobody refers to it. Besides on the interval (after a shaky first half) there’s a really touching, nameless word from the corporate sending love and loyalty.
20 November
Lengthy cellphone name from Ian McKellen. Geeing up, reminding, empowering, focusing. He’s at present rehearsing Current Laughter “with no director”.
28 November
…a contented viewers. Increasingly more individuals saying ‘What had been they speaking about?’
1 December
1.30 The curse of the matinée. From which it's arduous to recuperate.
7 That is an endurance take a look at. One scene at a time, preserve vitality the place you possibly can.
3 December
And the final efficiency. Simply to assist it alongside – a barracker is within the viewers apparently shouting “Garbage!” at one level after which “Quiet, women” as Helen & I are kissing. Eliminated on the interval.
The following dozen years had been outlined by Rickman’s position as Professor Severus Snape within the Harry Potter movies, chronicled in the diary entries in Saturday’s Guardian. Subsequently, in addition to an award-winning run on Broadway in Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar; starring in Michael Hoffman’s movie Gambit, alongside Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Stanley Tucci; and Eye in the Sky with Helen Mirren, Rickman went on to co-write and direct A Little Chaos, starring Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenaerts. A ardour challenge, it took him 4 years to get the movie off the bottom and into the can. It premiered on the Toronto movie competition in 2014.
2013
25 February
2pm Greek Avenue. Casting session [for A Little Chaos].
Actor speaking to actor whereas being director. Not comfy particularly when the components are so small when it comes to strains.
18 March
Kate and I stroll by means of the script. And she or he actually takes the time to look at each free thought, each wayward phrase. These are the high-quality tunings now. And we will’t lose sight of the drive towards story-telling.
8 April
The day Margaret Thatcher died. Rima can’t watch the protection, I've a clean fascination at seeing so a few years pan throughout one’s reminiscences, together with senseless adulation
15 April
A Little Chaos – Day One. Chenies [the film’s location, a Buckinghamshire manor house].
16 April
6.15 To Chenies.
A day memorable for the carriage crash and for hilarity brought on by my utilizing the walkie-talkie as a phone. Additionally KWs husband [Ned Rocknroll] arrived and there was a definite sense of an onset presence that distracted focus…
17 April
6.15 To Chenies.
Kate provides so little of herself – every part as an actor – however there may be by no means a second the place she finds out something about her fellow actors – and even says bravo or thanks. Unusual to witness. Such a intentionally erected wall.
29 Might
10.10 To Cliveden.
Into the King’s Bed room, with Stanley. Who didn’t solely know his not many strains …
7 June
That is our final official day of capturing. Kate is now 16 (?) weeks pregnant and giving every part. By the tip of every day she is wiped however nonetheless unbelievably centered.
9 June
A Little Chaos – Final day. Lights up, lights down. Au revoir to Kate. She strikes swiftly and cleanly on – complete dedication to every part. Ned, the youngsters, this movie, the subsequent movie, the youngsters’ baked beans.
Wrap celebration. Which turned out to be a joyous factor. Chiswick Home. Nice venue … However all these sudden goodbyes to individuals who have shared the within of your head, coronary heart, insecurities, triumphs … now the unusual absence.
13 September
7.45pm Kathy Lette [for dinner].
Oh Kathy ...
The company – Barry Humphries, Terry Gilliam, Helena Kennedy, Ruby & Ed, Ed & Justine Miliband, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jemima Khan, Salman Rushdie. For God’s sake. Exhausting simply writing that. However good chats with Justine M. (the stress of all of it) and Ed is upright and nonetheless wanting ahead. An inspiration and nonetheless interested by all people and every part.
2014
17 February
5.30 Buckingham Palace.
Sectioned right into a line-up – Angela Lansbury, Steve McQueen, Jane Horrocks, Lenny Henry, Luke Treadaway - to fulfill the Queen. Who shakes my hand and strikes on, as ever. Then right down to the live performance within the ballroom – large, no microphones, individuals can’t hear. Then a voice in my ear – ‘The Duchess of Cambridge wish to meet you.’ And good and chatty she was, too. 100 faces to talk to. Unimaginable.
13 September
Toronto movie competition.
6.30 To Roy Thomson Corridor. Watch the movie [A Little Chaos].
On the finish, 2,000 individuals stood and clapped loud and lengthy.
17 October
London movie competition, Odeon West Finish.
5.35 Crimson carpet. “What attracted you to this challenge?” occasions 10. Fantastic focus within the cinema. Big applause on the finish. 9ish the Union Membership. Pals all significantly knocked out by the movie.
31 December
SOUTH AFRICA Blazing scorching day on the seaside. A beer, a Coke, a tangerine.
2015
2 March
Melbourne.
7pm A Little Chaos screening. Watching from the steps. The Q&A is similar 5 questions solely longer.
17 April
The early morning silence [after reviews are published] that I do know effectively from the previous … Individuals adore it. Critics – some received’t go there. One, I might hazard, wrote his overview earlier than he’d seen it.
24 April
EN ROUTE TO NEW YORK HAVING BEEN IN BERLIN AND VIENNA.
Hanging about within the Concorde Room for the 5.05 to Newark … This [A Little Chaos] is the sort of work I make. If I'm to be disallowed then – I simply cease.
13 July
2.45 The Wellington [hospital]. As instructed. And examined.
14 July
5.30 Dr Landau, Harley Avenue.
A distinct sort of diary now.
It's at this level that Rickman learns he has pancreatic most cancers.
Rima Horton writes:
Alan’s final diary entry was on 12 December, however he had been getting weaker and writing much less for a while. All by means of the autumn he was consuming much less and sometimes feeling sick. However we continued to do a lot of the issues that had at all times been a part of our life. We noticed movies and performs, met pals, went out to dinner or entertained at house. Alan additionally spent quite a lot of time watching TV – his two favorite programmes at the moment had been Don’t Inform the Bride and Say Sure to the Gown. Our journey to New York in November was essential. To remain in our flat once more and see so most of the pals who had meant a lot to us through the years. Alan cherished New York.
He went downhill after that. He was admitted to hospital on 20 December and by no means left.
The final two weeks of Alan’s life had been extraordinary. His hospital room was became a salon. Belinda [Lang] produced a table-top Christmas tree, Emma T introduced in a normal lamp, cushions and a throw to cowl the couch. And an infuser. Miranda R added a window bird-feeder. I introduced a ravishing desk lamp from house.
Totally different pals got here in every day. Typically, Alan advised me who he wished to see. In any other case, they only got here. There was usually quite a lot of laughter. Alan was in mattress however at all times a serious voice within the proceedings.
He designed his personal funeral. Ian Rickson (theatre director) was put in cost. Alan selected the place it might happen, who would converse and what music could be performed.
He was surrounded by individuals who cherished him and up till 13 January was nonetheless in charge of every part that was occurring round him. However he wasn’t there after that, and he died at 9.15 within the morning of 14 January 2016. I used to be there. He wasn’t in ache. He simply went.
Alan was cremated on the morning of three February with shut family and friends current. The funeral service was held that afternoon within the Actors’ Church within the coronary heart of London’s theatre district. The chosen music was Uptown Funk and Take It with Me by Tom Waits. We completed with everybody singing The Solar Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore. Then, consistent with custom, the Reverend Richard Syms requested us to present Alan “one final great standing ovation”.
Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries edited by Alan Taylor is revealed by Canongate (£25). To assist the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Supply fees could apply
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