Sometimes Europeans are Much Cooler than Americans

By Uwe Mies – Cologne City Guide (ca late 1999); Via Alan Rickman ARkkive, translated by Un-Young Choi

He plays eerie villains and gentle romantic lovers. The native Londoner Alan Rickman, who started his acting career at the theatre while still studying graphic design, is one of the most fascinating silver screen personalities of our time. He had his big breakthrough in Hollywood in 1989 when he played the villain in DIE HARD. Instead of risking a fixed image as a bad guy he took on character roles in modern British romances like CLOSE MY EYES and TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY. His memorable appearance as Sheriff of Nottingham in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES established Rickman in the costume movies genre where he stood out as an upstanding but shy nobleman in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and in leading roles in the elaborate TV-productions MESMER and RASPUTIN. At present, the 52*-year old Englishman can be seen in theatres in the science-fiction comedy GALAXY QUEST and also in the controversial, much discussed satire DOGMA.

QUESTION: You aren’t exactly known as a comedian. Why did you choose two roles in comedies now, with a sci-fi comedy and a catholic satire?

RICKMAN: In some ways, this was a return to my roots, because I grew up in comedies. That’s nothing out of the ordinary for an actor in England. Apart from that, I’m always open for eccentric things if they are well thought out.

A ‘Winter’ Tale

By Jay Carr – The Boston Globe; Via Alan Rickman Fan Page

Getting a new role down cold, Alan Rickman makes his debut as a director

You’d know the languid, chiseled, resonant drawl with your eyes closed. It belongs to Alan Rickman, who has managed the difficult feat of remaining a respected British stage presence while launching a Hollywood career based on playing indolently sexy villains who seem amused by evil-doing. Perhaps because he holds strong socialist convictions, and to this day feels a conflict between Hollywood’s high-priced glitz and his egalitarian principles, he has not exactly been extroversion incarnate when talking about himself.

Maybe the reason Rickman is relaxed on a recent cold afternoon is that there is no audience except for a lone journalist in the tiny office borrowed from a theater manager. Certainly it helps that he isn’t going to have to talk about why women find him sexy or what his next big career move will be. He’s playing what for him is a new role: film director. Rickman’s debut film, The Winter Guest, about a mother who trudges through the frozen streets of a Scottish fishing village to thaw her recently widowed daughter out of her grief, opens Friday. He’s quite happy to remain behind the camera, deferring to his stars, Emma Thompson and her real-life mother, Phyllida Law, who play daughter and mother in the film.

Rickman moves to director’s chair with ‘Winter Guest’

By Iain Blair – CNN Interactive; Distributed by Los Angeles Times Syndicate

Alan Rickman, one of Britain’s most versatile screen and stage actors, happily and seemingly effortlessly bounces from hero to villain roles, from romantic period comedies to explosion-filled contemporary action films.

He played Hans Gruber, the ruthless terrorist, to Bruce Willis’ protagonist in “Die Hard;” starred as the equally nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham, foe to Kevin Costner in “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves;” and appeared as the shy and sensitive Col. Brandon opposite Emma Thompson in “Sense and Sensibility.”

Now Rickman has reteamed with Thompson for “The Winter Guest” and has expanded his craft even further by moving behind the camera and making his directorial debut.

Special “Guest”

Alan Rickman Invites Audiences Into His “Winter” Wonderland

By Christine James – BoxOffice (Dec 1997); Via Christine James Online

“The Winter Guest.” Starring Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law. Directed by Alan Rickman. Written by Sharman Macdonald and Alan Rickman. Produced by Ken Lipper, Edward R. Pressman and Steve Clark-Hall. A Fine Line release. Drama. Opens Dec. 19.

There’s a bug on your hand,” BOXOFFICE informs Alan Rickman.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” he says in a gentle tone, delicately brushing the insect away while making sure not to injure the creature. “Go on, fly away,” he tells it tenderly.

It’s conclusive proof that the actor who thought nothing of annihilating innumerable humans in such films as “Die Hard” and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” in real life would not hurt a fly.