Needless to say, the nation was heartbroken at the news that English actor, Alan Rickman, lost his life at the age of 69 to cancer this year on January 14th, surrounded by loved ones. Most known for his roles as the incredible villain in Die Hard, the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and the wonderfully complex Severus Snape in Harry Potter, Rickman has left an impression on us that will live on through the generations and left some big shoes to fill for future actors.
Having started his acting career back in 1978, he quickly became a household name and was suddenly a first choice for many British and American movies when they needed a brooding voice to lurk in the shadows. But his talents proved to be more diverse as he explored and excelled at more light hearted roles such as Love Actually and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Moving from one project to the other and delivering near-perfect performances each time, Rickman was an inspiration for actors everywhere. There were often times when Rickman would become the master of multi-tasking, having many projects on the go and at one point having five movies to air in the same year back in 2001. When it came to acting and entertaining, he never seemed to stop giving.
But it wasn’t just awards and nominations that made this man. It was also his contributions to charity that made him not just a great actor, but a great human being too. Having been a regular supporter of charities such as Book Aid International, Make Poverty History and Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, it was clear to see that Rickman wanted to give the world just as much as it gave him. Along with being a wizard, an animated caterpillar, a judge and hundreds of other things, he was thoughtful and generous.
Rickman was an inspiration. He had a pure talent when it came to acting but he also had a warm personality to match. The diverse and fascinating roles he played will stick with us for a lifetime and will not be forgotten. His last movie and reprisal of the Caterpillar, Alice Through the Looking Glass is due to air this May, and it hopes to be a picture that is just as enjoyable as his past projects. Whether it be revisiting classics like Die Hard and Sweeney Todd or introducing the actor to a new generation through Harry Potter, Alan Rickman’s memory will live on. Always.
words AMY WIGGINS, @ItsAScribbler, for more of her work you can read her blog here.
