Alan Rickman

Harry Potter and Sense and Sensibility actor Alan Rickman builds upon his legacy as a world-class actor, a tireless political activist, an avid traveler, and more through his diaries—a twenty-five-year passion project in which Rickman invites readers backstage and into his life. Alan Rickman remains the one of the most beloved actors of all time across almost every genre in the American and British markets, from his breakout role as Die Hard’s Hans Gruber to his heart-wrenching run as Professor Severus Snape, and beyond. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role have captivated viewers across nearly every generation alive today.

But Rickman’s artistry wasn’t confined to just his performances. Fans of movies, theater, and memoirs at large will delight in the intimate experience of Rickman detailing the extraordinary and the ordinary in a way that is “anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy and utterly candid.” He grants us access to his thoughts and insights on theater performances, the craft of acting, politics, friendships, work projects, and his general musings on life. Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman was written with the intention to be shared, and reading it feels as if Rickman is chatting to a close friend.

The Diaries of Alan Rickman

Madly, Deeply

High Fidelity

Acting can be one’s life, but that life must be rich enough to support it.

Fight the temptation to disappear into your own subconscious.

And the scene goes on through the day and the angles and lenses. The Death of Snape. Nearly ten years later. At least it’s just down to two actors . . .

I have finished reading the last Harry Potter book. Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him to his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and calls his son Albus Severus. This was a genuine rite of passage. One small piece of information from Jo Rowling 7 years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to.

Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says ‘See it through. It’s your story.

Too much of my journals seem to be about food and almost nothing about exercise . . . and the waistline expands . . .

Talk to Joanne Rowling again and she nervously lets me in on a few glimpses of Snape’s background. Talking to her is talking to someone who lives these stories, not invents them. She’s a channel – bubbling over with ‘Well, when he was young, you see, this that and the other happened’ – never ‘I wanted so & so . . .’

First conversation w. Joanne Rowling. Her sister answers – ‘She’s not here – can I leave a message?’ Cackling in the background . . . ‘Sorry about that! . . .’ ‘There are things that only Snape & you know – I need to know . . .’ ‘You’re right – call me tomorrow; no one else knows these things . . .’

the endings are all too neatly contrived so that we can leave disturbed but at peace with ourselves.

Jasmine Lawrence

What do we we do to ourselves to create these monsters within us? Or is it innate?

Maybe the wind will turn, but at the moment there is a gnawing feeling that this life offers only fleeting moments when it all comes together because the rest of it requires a fitter body and a more grown-up mind.hl

The trouble with this job is that you can watch yourself & your friends growing older in full colour, close up. Flip a switch to rewind or fast forward. Too fast forward.

 This kind of sickness robs you of thought – you are all sensation and none of it is pleasant, except a certain relief at being still and warm.

sometimes it is too weird that one’s life is splayed endlessly across a double page spread.

Far too late to bed. There will be a price to pay.

 One of those days that has no rules – time passes too quickly, a lot of it one would like to rewind or re-do. But there it was – a great sprawling, hopeful splurge of a day.

While half of me is saying – no, don’t go, it’s a mistake, the other half is ironing the shirt and ordering a taxi.

I must try not to be sucked into other people’s problems when all it does is drain my energy.

Desultory days. Can’t think properly. A strange reluctance to make phone calls. Talking to friends feels like a duty.

🌞Laur🌞

Talk of the killer ‘burning in hell’ helps no one… The murderer was also five years old once. Look at him and look at the photos of the children. What happens to us as we move on from their complete innocence- no knowledge of hate, repression, race, responsibility. Just smiling faces- no thoughts beyond the next half hour. Why is it only men who years later pick up the guns? What do we do to ourselves to create these monsters within us? Or is it innate?

Whatever law it is, which says that families must gather together and get on a particular day should be repealed or blown apart. 

Far too late to bed. There will be a price to pay. 

Every corner were the women. Cleaning, planting, looking after their memories.

Sometimes the emotional commitment to a piece of work keeps itself invisible, often for a long time, until it is threatened – and then complete immobility happens – a kind of nervous exhaustion descends.

I walked to a shop, had a coffee and a sauna, listened to some people on the phone – all so defensive, all hiding their own untruths.

I seem to be functioning in short sentences today.

It was so nice getting to read about Alan’s life through his experiences. The good, the bad, and everything in between. 

Not giving this a rating.

The Afterword absolutely ruined me. 

It was so nice getting to read about Alan’s life through his experiences. The good, the bad, and everything in between. 

Tanis Smither

Anya ✨

Niklas Pivic

Moonchild

Ness Rainier

Amanda Jones

Derek Barlas

Mark

This audiobook includes narration from Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Steven Crossley, and Rima Horton.

Madly, Deeply is a rare invitation into the mind of Alan Rickman—one of the most magnetic, beloved performers of our time.

From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.

But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.

Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.

Madly, Deeply features a photo insert, a foreword by Emma Thompson, and an afterword by Rima Horton.

Madly, Deeply The Diaries of Alan Rickman

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