Alan Rickman on Snape

[MMMfanfic at hotmail.com]

I've been lurking in the Rickman fanpage and guess what I find ... an 
interview on his role in HP, which has to be a first I think.

(The first part of the article is just some background info so I'll 
skip it and go straight to the interview.)


Unreel Magazine, issue 19 Oct/Dec

Interviewed by Jaspre Bark


Q: Can you tell us a little about your character Profesor Snape?

AR: Well, he's professor of Potions and the current head of Slytherin 
House at Hogwarts - the school of wizardry that Harry attends, but he 
harbours a secret ambition to be a Professor of the Dark Arts. He 
isn't that taken with Harry though, probably because he finds him a 
little too popular for a first-year pupil, I suppose. I think at 
heart Snape is basically quite an insecure person, he's always 
longing to be something else that people will really respect, like a 
black magician, not just a school master. That's why he envies the 
popular and successful boys like Harry. He does have his positive 
side though, even though Harry's a thorn in his side, he doesn't let 
it worry him too much. 

Q: In the earlier part of your life you were also in a profession 
that you wanted to get out of so you could become something else that 
people would respect more, do you think this was the element of 
yourself that you brought to the part of Snape?

AR: Hmm, that's an interesting question, I'm not sure I can answer 
it. I don't know if that's for me to judge, you'd have to ask the 
people around me... family and colleagues. You use yourself in 
everything you do, but at the same time you've got to have a very 
clear idea of another person. Otherwise I don't see how you can hand 
yourself over to it. He's not me. And also perhaps at particular 
times in your life you recognise certain parts as being closer to you 
now than they might have been five years ago. But no, every part has 
to have its own life to me - it isn't just me wiping myself across a 
stage or screen.

Q: Professor Snape is also a Quidditch referee, does that mean you've 
now mastered all of the game's rules?

AR: No, and I don't intend to.

[aw!]

Q: This first Harry Potter movie has a mainly British cast even 
though it's a Hollywood film. You've been quite outspoken on the 
problems with the British film industry, was it refreshing to be 
working with so many fellow Brits?

AR: The thing I like best about working with British actors is the 
approach they take to their work. Because they're not as likely to 
become famous making British films, they don't have as inflated a 
sense of their own importance as some American stars can develop. 
It's like [director] Chris [Columbus] said: 'there's not a sense of 
ego with any of the stars, none of that Hollywood stuff. Everyone 
just comes in to do their work. Nobody has a cook or a peronal 
trainer', I think everyone found that refreshing. 

Q: So what is it like to be a British actor working mainly in 
Hollywood, then?

AR: When you get off the plane in England you've got to shrug a 
little bit, hug yourself into your coat a bit more. I stand 
straighter in LA. It's something about how the English are brought 
up, and what we're told we can expect. Maybe it's because I drive a 
car in LA, and I don't here. I feel more in charge of myself. I 
wouldn't dream of being out there as an actor looking for work. To 
actually say 'OK, I'm going to pitch a tent here and wave a flag 
saying EMPLOY ME' - I couldn't do that. But I enjoy being there: it's 
disgusting and wonderful. Like going to Dunkin' Donuts for lunch 
every day. 

Q: Director Chris Columbus said his young daughter Elenaor was a 
great help as an unofficial consultant on the film because she was 
such a big fan of the Hary Potter books. Did you have any young 
consultants yourself?

AR: My two young nieces Claire and Amy have both read the books, I 
didn't consult them on my performance but I like to spend time with 
them whenever I can. We do all these daft things - movies, 
McDonald's, Hamleys. One time I told them we'd walk through Hamleys 
to choose one thing each. They marched straight to the Barbie 
counter - I couldn't believe it -hideous little dolls with pointed 
legs and breasts. My sister doesn't dress them in pink or bows. 
However, if I had children, I'd like to think I'd let them wear 
whatever they wanted. None of my friends would believe me, but I'd 
let them walk down the road in pink Lurex and gold plastic. 

Q: Or attend a school for wizardry and witchcraft?

AR: Even that. 

Q: Alan thank you very much for your [time?] and good luck with the 
film.

AR: Thank you, it's been a pleasure.