Alan Rickman, known for his iconic portrayal of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, had mixed feelings about his involvement in the franchise. Following his death in 2016, his wife, Rima Horton, shared his personal diaries which were later compiled into a book titled “Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries.” In these diaries, Rickman expressed candid thoughts about his experiences on set, surprising some fans.
Before the release of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Rickman wrote that he felt somewhat indifferent about the project, stating it disturbed him. His discomfort with the films persisted, with criticisms about the results, including specific remarks about the music score. Despite this, he did enjoy the after-party at the Savoy following the first movie.
Rickman’s private journals revealed his admiration for “The Prisoner of Azkaban,” praising the director’s work and describing the film as more mature and artistically daring. He also disclosed that J.K. Rowling shared a crucial detail about Snape’s character early on, providing him with essential insight for his portrayal.
While acknowledging the impressive special effects and character development in “The Half-Blood Prince,” Rickman expressed frustration with the storytelling and criticized the producers. He also found Snape’s on-screen death in the final film to be overly dramatic and unsettling, though he noted the audience’s positive reception.
After concluding his role in the Harry Potter series, Rickman continued to pursue various acting opportunities outside the realm of wizardry. His final film appearance was as the voice of the Caterpillar in “Alice Through The Looking Glass,” released posthumously in 2016.