Known throughout the world, this actor became in 2001 after the first part of "Potteriana" was released on a wide screen. In all the grandeur of his magical prowess, Alan Rickman, an actor, appeared before the audience. Severus Snape in his performance has become a kind of symbol of the mind, caustic irony, in a sense, even self-sacrifice. When the shooting began, Rickman was already 56 years old, and he played a man twenty years younger, and his age was not an obstacle, he was not even noticeable. Black hair, black clothes, a piercing look and a bewitching voice fascinated from the first moment. The actor, who played Severus Snape, had quite a decent acting baggage - over twenty film roles, for many years on the stage and even a directorial debut.
The childhood of the great actor
One of the most famous and talented British actors, who was elevated to the rank of cult thanks to only one role - a professor at the Slytherin faculty - tried all his life to be consistent in each of his actions. He was very attentive to his decisions. He even chose a wife once and for all his life: Rome Horton lived with her beloved Alan for almost fifty years. Every day, the couple anxiously patronized each other and supported absolutely everything. But that's all later, but for now ...
In the UK, in Hammersmith (one of London's districts) on February 21, 1946 little Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born. His mother was a native of Wales, and dad was born in the vastness of Ireland. The family was very friendly and child-loving. The boy grew up in a very warm atmosphere.
Mom’s faith in the strength of her son
After many years, it was Rome Horton who , to some extent, became a reflection of his mother, whom Alan loved very much. At eight, the actor was left without a father. Severus Snape in his performance was a kind of mirror image of memories of the long-dead dad. He died of cancer while still quite young. Mom was left alone with four children in her arms. It was at this time that she became for her son the dearest and closest person. Until the very last day of life, in parallel with love for the only wife, Alan’s heart will contain a warm, sincere affection for his mother. The woman always tried to help her son, supported him as best she could. Mom absolutely sincerely believed that her boy had some special talent, which later would be useful to him in life.
Actor or designer?
From childhood, he was fond of art Alan Rickman, an actor. Severus Snape, the character who made him one of the most famous actors on the planet, was yet to come. In the meantime, he learned to draw, participated in all school productions. In his youth, Rickman was very passionate about acting, but, despite this, he still chose graphic design as his profession. He studied at the Royal College of Art in London, and then - at the Academy of Dramatic Art. The future actor, who played a character named Severus Snape, even managed to work in the Royal Shakespeare troupe and opened his own design company.
It was Rome that was next to him in the difficult period of his life, when Alan had a difficult choice: to continue the successful but not very favorite craft of a graphic designer or to become an actor. Thanks to her support, he took the right step.
Screen path
The debut role of Alan Rickman was the role of Tybalt in the television play about the love of Romeo and Juliet. He worked for a very long time on British television. It was there that he was overtaken by fame and fame. After the first role, he was invited to other television films and performances, after which he added more fans in different parts of the country. Even when he became a well-known film actor who received several awards, titles and nominations, he did not leave his work on television - “Rasputin”, “Fallen Angels” and some others.
The future Severus Snape, actor Alan Rickman, had a classical education and an intelligent reprimand. It seemed that he was created specifically for diverse roles, which, in general, was confirmed by his paintings. But at the same time, all the heroes he played were polite, smart, restrained, like real English, and even a little arrogant. He was a little like his heroes, even comedic ones.
From Sheriff of Nottingham to Angel Metatron
In 1985, an actor who played a character named Severus Snape was invited to the play "Dangerous Liaisons" for the role of de Valmont. Successful production brought the actor prestigious awards. Three years later, there was a role in Die Hard, the leader of the terrorists who captured the skyscraper. Hero Alan Rickman was included in the list of "Best villains of cinema." Now invitations rained like cornucopia. In 1990, there was a very successful work in the film “Robin Hood, the Prince of Thieves,” where Rickman’s negative hero - the Sheriff of Nottingham - attracted a huge share of the attention that the main character had to rely on. Later there were many more interesting roles - Rasputin, Colonel Brandon and others.
Severus Snape - actor Alan Rickman - a couple of years before filming in one of his star roles received another interesting role. In 1999, the film "Dogma" was released, the reaction of the audience to which was very contradictory. Rickman played the Voice of God - the angel of Metatron, who is supposed to visit Earth when people are in real danger. His hero has supernatural abilities and great knowledge. The actor filled the image of an angel with elegant fatigue from eternal life, self-control.
Severus Snape, Professor Slytherin
All these awards and awards could not be compared with the crazy success that Rickman covered as an avalanche after his participation in the films about the adventures of Harry Potter, a surviving boy.
As always, Alan was inimitable! How did he play the cunning and very clever dean of the Slytherin faculty! So his new role is Severus Snape. The name of the actor immediately fell on the first lines of the tabloids. Death Eater ... Always pale, even painful, with long black hair and beautiful bottomless eyes, with a long, hooked nose. Severus Snape - actor Alan Rickman - in every episode of The Potterians was the object of hatred of most Hogwarts students. His gaze was now contemptuous, now prickly. And that constant grin on her lips ...
It was enough for Snape to say: “Open page 394” to make all the students shake with fear. Rickman said that when creating his character, he proceeded from what Rowling had already written. He simply embodied all this on the screen. Nevertheless (this turned out to be an interesting fact), the three guys who played Harry, Hermione and Ron only recently admitted that they were afraid of him in real life. But Alan was sure that in the image of Severus - in a black wig, with black lenses and a black cloak - he could not seem tender and fluffy, to be someone else. The costume of Dean Slytherin had a definite effect on the actor. He instantly focused on the role, which was important for Rickman, because he did not waste time and at the same time tried to help his younger colleagues in the workshop.
The actor played his part flawlessly. Meanwhile, in the "Order of the Phoenix" he was already 59 years old. Exclusively due to the image of Rickman, the "Snape" movement became the owner of its own views and took on a certain form. And for many ladies, it was this film that showed Alan as the embodiment of male beauty.
The only love for life
His romance with Rima Horton lasted as long as 12 years before they decided to live as a family. They always sought a quiet life in which there was no place for gossip and scandals. They liked to be alone. They never bothered each other.
The couple did not have children. So many years ago it was Rome that decided. Then, however, she wanted to reconsider this issue, but age no longer allowed to do this.
Despite strong feelings, they got married only in 2012. Very quiet, no frills. The ceremony took place in New York, but journalists learned about this much later.
The character Severus Snape (the real name of the actor is Alan Rickman) is somewhat similar to his "parent". Rickman was a real gentleman, a wonderful family man, a very decent man and a brilliant actor. Rome not only loved her husband, but respected him and was proud of him.
Until the death tear us apart...
In the summer of 2015, the couple learned that Alan was sick and serious enough. Doctors voiced the diagnosis of cancer. The forecast was rather disappointing. But Rome was near. She looked after him, always remaining his support and support until the very last day.
Alan Rickman, an actor whose Severus Snape was absolutely real, passed away on New Year's Day, January 14, 2016, from pancreatic cancer.