Фестиваль Giffoni, 2014 Алан Рікман: “На знімальному майданчику “Гаррі Поттера” було дуже весело”

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Alan Rickman on Acting, Harry Potter, and Life Lessons

By: Karin Ebnet, 24/07/2014

The Giffoni Film Festival welcomed Alan Rickman with reverent enthusiasm. Over the years, as the books and films gained popularity, the stern Professor Snape gradually won the love and respect of fans. But that’s not all—Rickman, also known as a distinguished stage actor and a talented director (thanks to The Winter Guest), was met with a crowd of young people who had waited for hours just to see him. With just one look, he could command an audience of hundreds. And despite his long list of film roles, Harry Potter held a special place in his heart.

At the end of the book series, your character is suddenly revealed from a completely different perspective. Did you agree with J.K. Rowling’s choice?

“Absolutely. I was happy with that ending. When I read the last book, I thought it was a worthy conclusion for Snape.”

What is your most cherished memory from filming?

“My colleagues on set. They—especially Michael Gambon—gave me unforgettable emotions. Michael is my idol. Not many people know this, but he made us laugh all the time, though I’m not sure Snape was supposed to laugh that much.”

What was your relationship like with the three main actors?

“I only spent about seven weeks a year filming Harry Potter. The rest of the time, I was working on other projects in film and theatre, so I barely noticed how Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint had suddenly grown up. When I first met them, they were just 10 years old, and suddenly they were 22. It’s almost a miracle that they turned out to be such well-adjusted and healthy people. They were just regular kids who had to endure an incredible workload. I’m very proud of them, and I’m happy to see Daniel grow into a mature and versatile actor.”

What did Harry Potter give to children?

“It helped them rediscover the world of books. That’s priceless.”

Will there ever be a continuation of Harry Potter?

“I have no idea. In any case, my character is dead (laughs). I haven’t read Rowling’s latest books, but my wife says they’re wonderful.”

Let’s set Harry Potter aside for a moment. Can you tell us about your experience working with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp?

“I loved working with Depp. He’s a brilliant actor and a wonderful person who generously shares his time and talent with his colleagues. And Tim Burton is simply beyond praise.”

Soon, we’ll see you in Patrice Leconte’s The Promise (Editor’s note: The Promise was set for release in Italy at the end of August 2014). What about your next directorial work?

“I’ve just finished working on A Little Chaos. Its premiere will be at the closing of the Toronto Film Festival, and I managed to secure a very important role for myself—King Louis XIV, the Sun King. It took a year and a half to make this film. The story, which blends reality with fantasy, revolves around the construction of a fountain in the Palace of Versailles. The project is given to architect Sabine de Barra, played by Kate Winslet. Of course, this could only happen in a movie, as female architects didn’t exist at the time. At court, she has to navigate a web of intrigue and gender discrimination. But the film touches on many other themes as well. It could be considered an ode to feminism—screenwriter Alison Deegan wrote it as a protest against the view of women as mere objects. At the same time, it’s also a breathtaking love story. We put an incredible amount of effort into this film, and I don’t think I’ll be stepping behind the camera again anytime soon.”

Do you have any upcoming projects for a younger audience?

“I was offered a script where the main character is a teenager, but I haven’t decided whether to accept the role. To be honest, I’m a strong advocate for working with older actors—people my own age. Otherwise, young actors will push us out completely!”

Will you return to the theatre?

“Absolutely. Theatre is my religion.”

Looking back, which role was the most challenging for you?

“Personally, one of the hardest roles for me was playing Ronald Reagan in The Butler. Even though I don’t agree with his politics, I have to admit that he was a very gifted man, and he was deeply loved in the White House. It’s difficult to judge him objectively.”

What do you think of the Giffoni Festival?

“In a world where young people are glued to their phones and addicted to social media validation, festivals like Giffoni are incredibly important because they remind youth of their true power. I dedicate a lot of time to mentoring young actors. I tell them to forget about acting for a moment and instead listen to music, visit museums, read newspapers, look around, learn, and read as much as possible.”

This year’s festival theme is “Be Different.” Have you ever felt different from others?

“When I was a child, I often felt different from other kids who led ‘normal’ lives. My father passed away when I was just eight years old, and my mother raised four of us on her own. But then I attended a school that encouraged versatility. For example, we had to study completely opposite subjects like art and physics. That helped me a lot.”