Nov. 26, 2003

Today I added a review for "Love Actually" to the Films page.  Also, here is a new interview with Alan: 

After the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and the bad guy in Die Hard, do you think you've cornered the 'baddie market'?
Alan:  No. I've played such a mixture of characters. They're all different from me - I think as much about Truly, Madly, Deeply and Sense And Sensibility as I do about the baddie parts.

But do you prefer hamming it up to the more normal roles?
Alan:  I like doing it all, really. If you're asked to be very minimal and real, that's just as interesting as hamming it up. A film like Love Actually is fairly restrained but it's not less of a challenge. It can be much easier in a way to come on all guns blazing. A lot of what Love Actually is about what isn't being said - between me and Emma, anyway.

Was it like bumping into an ex, seeing Emma Thompson on the set of Love Actually?
Alan:  Well it felt like going back to old ground in a way. We've made four films together now - Sense And Sensibility, I directed her in The Winter Guest and we did Judas's Kiss (where we were romantically involved). But Emma and I have developed too much of a sense of humour to take it all too seriously - laughing too much on set is often a problem. Everybody had such a short time in the movie to say who their characters are and if you're going to say, 'Here is a couple who have been married for a while and they've got two kids,' you've got to do that in swift, short strokes. So, on the whole, the fact that we're close friends helps. Maybe that's why Richard [Curtis, director/writer of Love Actually] wanted us to play these parts.

Do you like it?
Alan:  Yeah, because you can go to the movies at 10 in the morning and there's nobody there eating popcorn in your ear. And I have good friends there who aren't particularly in the business and there are great bits of countryside to go to. I'll spend a day walking around Joshua Tree or going up to San Francisco.

Was there a point in your career when you thought: 'I've made it?'
Alan:  It still hasn't happened!
Yes it has!
Alan:  No, because there are always people hanging around with a machete. Anytime you think you've made it, somebody'll lop you off at the ankles. Cate Blanchett said something once that was very true. She said that the horizon was always shifting, but that it's a good thing. A good sensation of never having quite arrived.

And when you knew you were a household name, you didn't have a feeling that you could rest and say, 'I've done something good here?'
Alan:  Erm... the work's the important thing, not whether you're a household name.

Are you still a staunch Labour supporter?
Alan:  Well, I certainly think, 'Who else are you going to vote for?'

So, maybe a supporter but not staunch?
Alan:  Well, not uncritical but then I never was. I think it's a very, very complicated world now and I don't think there are any easy affiliations.

Did you like working with Richard Curtis?
Alan:  Yeah, he's lovely.

Had you worked with him before?
Alan:  Never. And this was his first film as a director and I had directed one movie up until now and so I envied him his incredible calmness and sense of where he was going and what he was doing. I guess it helps if you've written it. He was great.

Have you noticed a big difference in your career since you've done Snape in the Harry Potter films?
Alan:  Harry Potter feels like a whole other part of my life. It's somehow not part of the me who did Private Lives in the West End and the me who directed, and who did Love Actually. Harry Potter is like a pocket of life that I go and visit again from time to time.

Have you read all the Harry Potter books? Are you a fan?
Alan:  You can't stop turning the pages, can you? But I haven't read them all - I have to try to catch up as we film.

The part of Snape seemed so perfect for you... there was something about it which made it look like you were stretched and yet sort of confined at the same time. Did you feel that?
Alan:  Good way of putting it, actually. Because that's what Snape's like. There are such still waters in there. And the trouble is that there's so much we don't know yet 'cause JK Rowling hasn't revealed it. I know a couple of things about all that, that you don't and I'm not telling...

How do you get the dreadful Snape hair?
Alan:  Easy. It's a wig.

Is there a theatre role you still fancy doing?
Alan:  Well, you run out of them unfortunately, the older you get. You keep thinking, 'Oops! Can't do that role' and 'that's gone'! The older you get, the more parts you miss out on.

Do you prefer theatre to film?
Alan:  No. And after I'd done a year on stage the last thing I wanted to do was another play. It's a balancing act.

Does theatre take it out of you more?
Alan:  Yeah.

But does it give more?
Alan:  Not always. Sometimes it takes more than it gives. It's a very particular discipline, especially when the reviews are a success, so that the theatre is packed, and there are people moaning that they can't get a ticket and you're just a little actor. Opening night on Broadway is pressure, but that's what I do. It's part of the job. It's great when the curtain comes down at the end... and it's great when you're doing it, too. It's just that hanging on to that concentration for two solid hours is hard. At least in a film if you screw it up you can do it again.

Nov. 17, 2003
Now here is a video clip you can watch from the Jimmy Kimmel show, it's from the end of the interview: (thanks to Kim!)
Jimmy Kimmel show with Alan

Nov. 14, 2001
CLICK HERE  for the brand new trailer of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Watch for several appearances by our man! 

Also, thanks to Maren for transcribing Alan's interview with Jimmy Kimmel yesterday.  Here is the text for those who missed it:

Nov. 10, 2003

I apologize for publishing the wrong YEAR on the updates for the last few days.  I recently became engaged and have been severely twitterpated!  I'm involved in planning a wedding and honeymoon for next year; therefore, my brain is stuck in 2004...  Anyway, I have had a few complaints that the newer photos on this page are not visible.  Unfortunately, I can't find anything wrong on my computer, since they display fine in both Explorer and Netscape. 

Now today we have another TV ALERT... Watch Love Actually "Behind The Scenes" on the "E!" entertainment network this week.  It premieres on Thurs., Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m., with repeat showings on Nov. 14 at 7:30 am & 3:30 pm; Nov. 16 at 3 am and 7:30 am; and Nov. 17 at 3:30 am.   Also, here's a new short interview with Alan, courtesy of Jodi (many thanks):

"Who was the first person you ever loved and how old were they and you?"
Alan:  Amanda.  From afar.  We were ten.  At sports day, blonde hair flying, she won the 100 yards by a mile.
"Who was the first person you loved in the movies?"
Alan:  Jeanne Moreau.  And Jules.  And Jim.
"What is your favourite romantic song?"
Alan:  'Take It With Me' by Tom Waits.
"What is your favourite Christmas song?"
Alan:  'Merry Christmas' by John Lennon
"What is your best ever Christmas present?"
Alan:  A box containing a shiny half-crown and three handkerchiefs with 'A' in the corner.
"And what is your worst?"
Alan:  A scratched coffee grinder with no box and oily thumbprints.  You know who you are.
"If you had to have sex with one British Prime Minister, who would it be with?"
Alan:  You must be joking.
"Who would you have as your naked stand-in?"
Alan:  Liam Neeson's choice.  Or Liam Neeson.  Or almost anyone, at this point.
"Is love actually all around?"
Alan:  Actually, yes.  In spite of all the shite.

Nov. 7, 2003

Lots of new stuff today!  As you all know, "Love Actually" premieres in the U.S. today (I am going tomorrow!) and the New York premiere was last night.  Here are a few photos fresh off the press from that event last night:

TV Alert!!  Watch for Alan as a guest on the Jimmy Kimmel show next Wednesday, Nov. 12.  Check your local listings, but usually this show airs on ABC around midnight.

And...remember Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?   It's in post-production right now preparing for a June 2004 release.  Here is a new photo of Prof. Snape and short article about that film:

Now,here is another new article about Alan from the San Francisco Chronicle:

Alan Rickman raises the curtain on his emotions Carol Muskoron, Special to The Chronicle		Sunday, November 2, 2003

London -- Theater means pressure to actor Alan Rickman. And sometimes it's a pressure he could do without.

"Sometimes theater takes more than it gives," sighs Rickman. "It's great when the curtain comes down at the end . . . and it's great when you're doing it, too. It's just that hanging on to that concentration for two solid hours is hard. At least in a film if you screw it up you can do it again."

And tonight -- the night after the London premiere of his new film "Love Actually" -- the acerbic actor would much rather talk about acting in movies. Despite Rickman's reputation as a stage actor -- he has worked for years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and recently starred in Noel Coward's "Private Lives," both on Broadway and London's West End -- he's probably best known in the States for his appearances in the Harry Potter movies and his portrayal of bad guys. He played the sinister mob leader in "Die Hard" and the outrageous Sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."

"Love Actually," which opens here Friday, weaves nine love stories into one plot. In one of them, Rickman plays Harry, married to Karen (Emma Thompson) -- they have two children and appear to be the perfect longtime married couple (although Harry is constantly trying to fend off advances from his secretary).

Written by Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill" and "Bridget Jones's Diary") who also directs for the first time, the movie is a sort of Who's Who of the British acting world: In addition to Rickman and Thompson, it boasts a panoply of stars -- Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, Liam Neeson, with Americans Laura Linney and Billy Bob Thornton (as the president of the United States). Linney plays Sarah, a young woman with a dark and tragic secret; Grant plays a fictional British prime minister who has some very strong words about the relationship between Britain and the United States.

Rickman has worked with Thompson before -- they were in "Judas Kiss" in which they were romantically involved -- and says the opportunity to work with her again was a bonus. "The fact that we're close friends helps," Richman says.

"Maybe that was part of the reason Richard (Curtis) wanted us to play these parts."

While Rickman's sneering purr makes him the movie villain of choice, he can tone down the sinister. "A film like 'Love Actually' is fairly restrained but it's not less of a challenge," he says. "It can be much easier, in a way, to come on all guns blazing. A lot of what this film's about is about what isn't being said."

Born in a poor part of London, Rickman lost his father at age 8, and won a scholarship to a good London school. Acting wasn't what he set out to do -- after school, Rickman headed for art college. And he's always had an interest in politics -- he's known in Britain as a staunch Labor supporter. In his mid- 20s, Rickman applied to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He got in, but it wasn't until he was 42 that his work was noticed in a production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" in Stratford-on-Avon.

His leading lady, Lindsay Duncan, has said of that first night, "A lot of people left the theater wanting to have sex, and most of them wanted to have it with Alan Rickman."

A tall and broad bear of a man, with a lovely open face, Rickman's become something of a thinking person's sex symbol, a notion which he hasn't much time for.

"I set out to be as honest and open and direct an actor as I can," he says. "And I've noticed that when actors try to work openly, some kind of attraction is created because people see a route to you as a person, or they think they do. Maybe that creates an attraction."

Success, on stage or on film, has "got nothing to do with an actor's looks, " he says matter-of-factly. "It's the emotions an actor taps into." He repeats the word slowly: "The emotions."

Nov. 4, 2003
Here is a new article about Alan's next project:

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Alan Rickman (news) and Mos Def will star in "Something the Lord Made," an HBO movie about the true story of heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, a white surgeon and a black lab technician.

The partnership between Blalock (Rickman) and Thomas (Mos Def) began in 1929 when the then-19-year-old Thomas' dreams to go to college and medical school were dashed when he lost his tuition savings in the October stock market crash and took a job as a lab technician at Vanderbilt University's medical school, working for Blalock, a resident surgeon.

At Vanderbilt and later at Johns Hopkins University, Blalock and Thomas worked on several breakthroughs that revolutionized cardiac surgery, including the wider use of plasma or whole-blood transfusions to prevent surgical shock, which saved millions of lives during World War II, and the Blalock-Taussig shunt.

Multiple Emmy winner Joseph Sargent ("Miss Rose White") has come on board to direct the film, which is still in development. Peter Silverman (Lifetime's "We Were the Mulvaneys") penned the script for the project, which has been kicking around for 6 1/2 years.

Rickman is set to reprise his role as Professor Severus Snape in "Harry Potter (news - web sites) and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third movie of the "Happy Potter" series. He next appears in the comedy "Love Actually," which opens Friday.

Mos Def most recently co-starred in the hit "The Italian Job." His upcoming features include "The Woodsman," "The Sky Is Green" and "A Confederacy of Dunces."

 Oct. 27, 2003
"Love Actually" opens on Nov. 7th at cinemas all over the U.S.  In the meantime, here's a little something for your desktop to set the mood:

Also, there are two NEW clips with Alan from the movie, just click here:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=trailer&id=1808428930&intl=us

Oct. 7, 2003
Adam Leonard is an artist who has recorded a song called "Not Alan Rickman." 
Hear it by clicking on the link below (registration is free)--

Sept. 26, 2003
Here are some recent photos of Alan:

Sept. 10, 2003
Take a look at the new poster for Love Actually:

August 28, 2003
Here's another new totally new trailer of Love Actually, including more clips of Alan!  Thanks to Aliansha.
http://www.uip.co.uk/films/love_actually/

August 18, 2003
Finally, there's a new trailer for the upcoming film, "Love Actually."  Watch it here:
http://www.kinepolis.be/TrailerPopup/TrailerPopup.cfm?movieName=Love%20Actually&ident_site_Id=290&country_ID=B&language_Code=ENG&trailerID=2723
Counting down the days until November 7th!

August 11, 2003
Here's breaking news about the new director chosen for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire":

"Mike Newell, the director of the hit British comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, is to direct the fourth Harry Potter film.  Newell, 61, is the first Briton to direct a film adaptation of a JK Rowling book.  He will begin work on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire next April."

This is good news for AR fans, since Mike Newell also directed An Awfully Big Adventure with Alan in 1995!

July 24, 2003
Look!  Here's a new pic of Rupert Gint, Gary Oldman (who plays Sirius Black), Alan, and two fans on the set of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

July 22, 2003
Here is a new photo of AR taken by a German fan at the National Theatre in London last Monday (July 14).  (Vielen dank Jana, er sieht sehr gut aus!)

http://www.mein-abenteuerland.com/spass/smmt/kultur/edmondbrand/edmondbrand.html

July 21, 2003
Here's an early look at what reviewer's are saying about "Love Actually," Alan's new film, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 7, 2003.  The following reviews are from Ain't It Cool website:

I was recently delighted to see LOVE ACTUALLY, the new film by Richard Curtis of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, etc., writing fame. Right off, you have to bow down to a cast like this: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, with bit parts played by Rowan Atkinson and Billy Bob Thornton.  My count is seven story lines, though I might be off - these are intertwining stories examining love in all its wacky forms. It's dismissing to call this movie a romantic comedy - certainly a few of the story lines would make perfect
romantic comedies, Hugh Grant playing the Prime Minister (a laugh in itself, though he pulls it off very well) who falls for one of his staff members, Colin Firth falling for the Portugese housekeeper even though their language barrier keeps them from communicating... but the movie is much more than that, exploring the consequences of slight straying in a stable marriage, the love of a sister for her mentally disturbed brother, and it goes on and on.

The audience seemed pleased with the film but I'm sure the execs are worried that American audiences are too dumb to keep up with so many people and the way they're related to each other. The storyline that seemed to be most crowd pleasing was Liam Neeson's as a stepdad of an 11-year-old fitting into his new role after his wife's death, a story that plays completely against expectations. The movie is really a lovely way to let great talent show off their skills, and music figures prominently in some great moments of classically stodgy actors letting loose with some impromptu dancing and karaoke.  But the storylines aren't overwhelmed by the stars and you're left at the end both uplifted and troubled, because not all love stories can end neatly and succinctly.  Curtis understood this and left some storylines more open, so hopefully they'll survive the cutting process that way. And I didn't even get to mention Thornton's truly smarmy turn as the American President - well, I guess I just did!

Really, the movie is not perfect but is a lovely, ambitious effort and gives its actors and its brilliant writer/director Curtis a chance to show off what they do best. Please, go see this movie - right now it's slated to open against the third installment of THE MATRIX!  Well, after what I’ve recently learned about REVOLUTIONS, I’ll say this... any counterprogramming is a good thing.  Besides, it’s not like those audiences are the same.  Action junkies aren’t going to see LOVE, ACTUALLY no
matter what else opens that weekend, and people looking to laugh probably aren’t going to want to watch a giant battle epic in which tons of characters die.

Did this next reviewer dig it as well?

I know someone else had a look at this a few weeks ago, but I have just seen a test screening of Richard Curtis' directorial debut "Love Actually," and wanted to pipe in with my tupenny's worth.  First off, let me set my stall out early doors and state that I really don't care for romantic comedies. I was bored by Four Weddings and Notting Hill, and almost gave up cinema forever after the execrable Sweet Home Alabama. I only went to the screening on the basis of the impressive cast list, and just chanted "Blackadder, Blackadder" to myself in an attempt to forget Curtis' more recent writing efforts.

Perhaps it was due to my low expectations that I actually enjoyed the film immensely. As has been said before, it follows the relationships of about 10
couples in the five weeks running up to Christmas, and although there is nothing
particularly new in any of the plotlines, it is on the whole very well structured and
well acted. I will take a brief look at each relationship in the order that they come
to memory:

1. The British PM (Hugh Grant) and his tea-girl Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) - As ever, Hugh Grant plays Hugh Grant, whom you may remember from such Richard Curtis films as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, but now Hugh has managed to get himself elected as Prime Minister. I am generally pretty ambivalent towards Hugh Grant, but I found him strangely likable in this role, and he is involved in an especially good scene where he dances around Number 10 to the radio. There are a few early jibes at the present residents of 10 Downing Street early on, and a promising love triangle involving the US President (Billy-Bob Thornton), which is disappointingly brief.

Thornton plays a very unlikeable and bullying Prez which I suspect will do the
film no favours at the US box office. Martine McCutcheon is OK as the PM's love interest, although in general this plotline is highly predictable. There is however a great scene towards the end when the PM goes door-to-door trying to find Natalie.

2.  Juliet (the yummy Keira Knightley), her new husband and his best mate (and best man) Mark (Teachers' and This Life's Andrew Lincoln, who creates some very interesting art). This is another highly predictable storyline, with the highlight occurring early in the piece at the end of the wedding ceremony itself.  Were it not for Keira Knightley keeping up my interest, I would put forward this thread as the prime candidate for the cutting-room floor. As it is, the thread which I suspect will find itself trimmed the most is:

3. Office worker Sarah (Laura Linney) and her object of affection, work colleague Carl (Rodrigo Santoro). This was the one thread of the piece which I really didn't give a monkeys about, and it would be no great loss if it was to be removed from the film. Again, there is nothing new in the storyline, and I doubt if anyone would really miss it if it were not to find its way into the final cut.

4. Loveless Colin (Kris Marshall, best known as the funny one in BBC shitcom My Family), and his quest to go to America to find one of the millions of girls who will no doubt immediately fall for him due to his "cute" Basildon British accent. Needless to say, as soon as he has mustered some cash he heads off to Wisconsin (naturally, where else?) with a bag full of condoms. Marshall is amongst the best performers, although he doesn't feature much and is basically just playing a slight variation on his character from My Family.

5. opeless crime writer Jamie (Colin Firth), who discovers his wife has been cheating on him with his best friend, and heads off to his holiday home in France, where romance blossoms with his Portuguese cleaning lady Aurelia. The majority of this plotline consists of poor language-barrier semi-gags, but there is a fabulous scene towards the end as Jamie treks through town alongside Aurelia's dad, fat sister and a few hundred others in search of Aurelia.  As ever though, this thread is also as predictable as a prune-eaters bowels.

6. Recently widowed Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his stepson. I found this thread to be the most interesting of the piece, with some good dialogue between the father and stepson, although it was marred slightly by a disappointing ending on the part of the stepson. Neeson was excellent, and the kid was reasonably good in terms of child actors, at least I am not likely to wring his neck if I ever see him in the street.

7. Sarah's boss Harry (Alan Rickman), his wife Karen (Emma Thompson, playing the PM's little sister) and his devilishly attractive PA (whose name I forget). Not much to write home about here in terms of plot or humour, whilst Rickman and Thompson both play the same characters they always seem to play, in common with Hugh Grant, but less likable here.  There is also a sadly unfunny cameo from Rowan Atkinson in this thread, which contends with Linney's as the one that I would miss the least if it were cut.

8. Ageing rocker Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) and his fat manager (Gregor Fisher, TV's Rab C Nesbitt). This thread provides without doubt the greatest amount of
entertainment in the movie, and is probably the one thread that I would be really
upset if it was cut in the slightest. Nighy is excellent as the rocker who releases a
cheesy contender for the Christmas #1 spot, a truly horrible re-working of the
Four Weddings theme "Love is All Around". There is a truly hilarious scene
when Mack appears on Ant & Dec's (if you don;t know who they are, count
yourself lucky) Saturday morning kids' show, and any scene involving Nighy is
amongst the highlights of the entire film.

9. A pair of movie stand-ins, played by The Office's Martin Freeman, and an
unknown but very attractive blonde girl. This is the thread which I fear will
(sadly) find much of itself on the cutting room floor in the quest for a low
certificate, as it involves a large amount of highly amusing nudity. This is one of
the few threads of the film that has no pretensions of a serious message, and
provides the second-most entertainment after the thread above.

In general I found the movie immensely enjoyable, it features an incredibly impressive cast list and more than its fair share of cameos (I lost count of the     number of times I heard those around me whispering to each other "Isn't that the
guy/girl from 24/American Pie/Starship Troopers/Claudia Schiffer") and although
there is nothing especially new in the film there are numerous laugh-out-loud
funny scenes, and it seemed to be universally enjoyed by the few hundred or so
that were in the cinema with me. I suspect that the final cut will be a bit shorter as
this cut weighed in at over 2 hours, but I would be disappointed if anything was
lost from any of the scenes, other than those from Linney's and Rickman's
threads. At the end of the day it is a romcom and it does exactly what it says on
the tin, and unlike most in the genre it actually has a large portion of "com" to go
with the "rom". This movie has Christmas release written all over it, and although
there will be some heavyweight competition come the end of the year, I would
eat the contents of a large hat shop if this film didn't rake in a good $100m plus.
Hopefully this will mark an overdue return to form for Richard Curtis' writing, and I may even be persuaded to see another film featuring Hugh Grant in the future.

July 10, 2003
Here's some news about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that I found on http://www.countingdown.com

July 9, 2003 — A first look at footage from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is to be shown at Comic Con this year, from 10:30-11:30 on Saturday as part of Warner Bros' big event. This editor shall be there, and will report everything that's shown!! Check out the link below for more info.
Source: http://www.comic-con.org/Pages/CCI03-SatProg.html

And here's a new pic of Alan from the June issue of Harpers & Queen magazine:

June 13, 2003
Today I received this important news regarding fan mail, PLEASE READ:

Alan's assistant, Melanie Parker, has asked us (webmasters) to post a notice to all fans that due to his current work schedule, he is regrettably unable to fulfil requests for autographs or photos at the present time.  She also said that Alan is very concerned his fans will be disappointed or feel he has adopted a high and mighty attitude, which IS NOT TRUE.  So, I am asking all of you who have written Alan to please be understanding and don't take it personally if your request is not honored or your letter not answered.  And for those who are thinking of writing in the future, please refrain temporarily until the situation improves and the sheer volume of mail Alan has been receiving is reduced.  Thank you.

My thoughts:  This is typical of Alan to worry about disappointing his fans.  Bless his heart...
I have repeated this announcement on my Fan Mail page.

Now for some better news-- the new 2-disc Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves DVD was released this week and contains 12 extra minutes of original film footage, including scenes with Alan which were cut from the original plus interviews and lots of extras.  I haven't watched it yet, but the reviews are good and I'm told it's well worth buying.  You should be able to find it in any video store (within the USA).
 

June 10, 2003
I redesigned the Alan Photo Galleries today with an index, so you can navigate easier to the page you want.  Enjoy!

June 9, 2003
Here's a few new pics of Alan in a London bake shoppe!

Click on each one to make bigger!

Also, there is a very attractive new photo on my Theatre page of a younger Alan from the Grass Widow (thanks to Kimberly), check it out!
 

June 4, 2003
Alan was at the celebration of the 50th  anniversary of the Queens Coronation and recited a beautiful poem for her, Coward's "This Is To Let You Know."  You can read the full text below...lucky Queen!

This Is To Let You Know
by Noel Coward

This is to let you know
Tthat there was no moon last night
And that the tide was high
And that on the broken horizon
Glimmered the lights of ships
Twenty at least, like a sedate procession passing by.

This is to let you know
That when I'd turned out the lamp
And in the dark I lay
That suddenly piercing loneliness, like a knife,
Twisted my heart, for you were such a long long way away.

This is to let you know
That there are no English words
That ever could explain
How, quite without warning, lovingly you were here
Holding me close, smoothing away the idiotic pain.

This is to let you know
That all I feel for you
Can never wholly go.
I love you and miss you, even hours away,
With all my heart.
This is to let you know.

May 30, 2003
Here's another new pic of Alan--

(Thanks to Doris for the photo)

May 22, 2003
There is now a script available for "Pity In History," which you can download HERE(Thanks to Kimberly).  Also, feast your eyes on these brand new pics of Alan (Thanks to Doris):

Click to make them bigger!

 

May 7, 2003
I apologize for some of the links not working last time, they should all be functioning properly now.  I am pleased to announce that the Alan on TV page now features a few rare photos from "Pity In History," courtesy of JJ.  As far as I know, they are available on my page exclusively, so please respect the warning and do not copy to other sites.  Thank you and enjoy!

Also, there are 3 new video clips on Hear The Voice page, including the Tony Awards with a Private Lives clip; an interview with Christopher Hampton which includes rare footage of Alan as Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses; and Alan as comedian, hosting the Bruce Willis Tribute.

April 29, 2003
Alan will be taking part in a benefit night for Human Rights Watch at the 20th
Century Theatre London W11 on Sunday 11th May.  "Cries From The Heart" features readings by AR plus George Alagiah, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Hampton, Juliet Stevenson and Fergal Keane.

Book now on 020-7713 2773

April 25, 2003
Lots of new things today... First of all, there's a new link on my AR Links page to Ella's page called "Rickmanland."

Then, I changed "My AR Wallpapers" to Fun With Alan and it now includes a brand new music video made by Jana.  The new video has clips of Snape and Lucius Malfoy and is some of her best work, so don't miss it!  I will add more fun stuff here in the future.

A bit of casting news:  in the April 20th issue of Evening Star, actor Alan Cummings, who will star in the film version of the stage musical "Phantom of the Opera," revealed that Alan Rickman will be playing one of the French directors in the new film.

Unfortunately, I had to replace the Quicktime version of "In Demand" video with the old RealPlayer MTV verson.  I hope everyone who wanted it was able to download while it was available.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I could only offer it for a limited time due to the large file size.

Lastly, here are a few new pics of Alan attending the April 23 performance of Hitchcock's Blonde:

April 23,2003
There is a new encounter with photo on the Close Encounters page.  Also, here is a brand new photo of Alan from Hello magazine last week.  The woman in the photo is Lynne Franks, a PR woman.  They attended the grand opening of a new cocktail bar in London called the Lounge Lover.  Thanks to Suzy for the pic and info!

April 4, 2003
I added at least 15 new quotes on From His Own Lips.

March 27, 2003
I've just been invited to join Phenomenal Women of the Web-- so you can now see the seal displayed on my main page. Click on it to visit their website with lots of interesting links.

Also, I added new Alan pics today to four different pages:
Gallery 3
Gallery 6
Gallery 8
and the brand new Gallery 9
Enjoy!

March 26, 2003
Alan gave an interesting interview a few months ago for Youth Culture TV, and here is the entire text with a pic, courtesy of Claudia from GA:

(Remember that the interviewer is a student in her late teens.)

"PB: Hello. My name is Pamella Bisson and welcome to "Cinemania." I'm honoured
to introduce our special guest today who is a renowned British film and theatre actor
who has been on screens and stages - if I can say it - 24 years? Mr. Alan
Rickman. Hi - how do you do?
AR: Good, thank you.
PB: How have you enjoyed your tour?
AR: Terrific. I was just saying you're very lucky - we had nothing like this - a little
more than 24 years ago.
PB: Alright. We're going to start as we need to go on. And I want to ask you what
questions do you hate being asked the most?
AR: It depends who's asking them, really. I don't mind. You can ask whatever you
like.
PB: Okay, alright. Everybody knows that Harry Potter has obviously been a great
success in the UK, America, it's taken over the world. How do you feel being a part
of it?
AR: I'm very proud to be part of it. Because, you know, it's not often that something comes along that's become somehow a part of the world's currency and vocabulary and that has made such a huge difference to the lives of so many children.  There's this phenomenon called Harry Potter that's encouraged kids to read again.
PB: Have you read the books - the Harry Potter series?
AR: Well, I've read the ones that are out. Obviously, you have to read them before  you go make the movie otherwise you might make a big mistake.
PB: How did you get the part?
AR: I was asked and then I met with the director and then we kind of both decided
okay.
PB: Does it disappoint you then that you haven't been made into an action figure?
AR: Ah-I have one at home, so I think I have.
PB: You have? The internet says you haven't.
AR: Yeah, oh no, I'm there.  You can buy a Snape doll if you're that insane.
PB: A third Harry Potter movie comes out next year.  Are you going to be a part of
that, as well?
AR: I hope so, yeah, if it all works out.  I was talking to the director last night.
Because, you know, it's a new director for the third one and this one's called-this
one!-this person is called Alphonso Cuaron.  He's a Mexican but he is a brilliant
director.
PB: Was there a different director for the first one as well as the second one?
AR: No, that was Chris Columbus who directed the first two.  He will be producing
this one so he will still be there.
PB: Will you be in the fourth?  The fifth?  The sixth?
AR: Oh, who knows.  The fifth one she hasn't finished writing yet.
PB: Richard Harris who played Dumbledore in the last two Harry Potter movies and
has recently passed away - is that going to have a big effect on the next movie?
AR: Yeah, I think it's already having a big effect.  You know, it was kind of very sad
at the premiere.  I'm sad in one way and glad in another because he has quite a lot
to do in the film and so you get to see him for this last movie.  He was a wonderful
man - wonderful actor.  And, I'll miss him because we used to sit next to each other
in the make-up chair in the morning chatting away, or he would be dozing in his
chair because it was early in the morning.  And, he was a great guy.  It will be a big
difference and I don't know who it's going to be.
PB: That was going to be my next question-
AR: Oh, no, I don't know.
PB: We also know you've been I a couple of films that have not yet been released.
For example, Love Actually?
AR: Not only not released yet, it's not finished yet! It's still shooting. I've been filming on it the last month or so and I still have a shot to do on it and then I think it will be released next Christmas.
PB: Can you tell us a bit about it?  The plot?  The character?
AR: Well - It's written by Richard Curtis who wrote Notting Hill and Four Wedding
and a Funeral. And, this time he's directing for the first time. It's about maybe six
different couples and they each have separate stories and you jump about from one
couple to another other. Then, right at the end of the movie all the couples come
together a school Christmas concert. There are links- there are certain links.
PB: Talking about directing movies - the first movie that you directed was "The
Winter Quest?"
AR: "The Winter GUEST"
PB: Guest-sorry (giggling)  How was it directing that film?
AR: I loved it.  The good thing about directing a movie is that you're surrounded by so many experts.  It's very reassuring.  You show up on the set and everyone knows what they are doing.
PB: Do you prefer that to acting?
AR: No it's not that but now it's a part of my life and I will do more.  But it's a
question of organisation.  If you decide to direct a movie you know and if the fates
are with you to get your money, which is very difficult in this country-you know it's at least a year maybe eighteen months of your life you can just cross off the calendar.
PB: There's also been some rumours that you're starring in a new film of Sherlock
Holmes?
AR: Not true.
PB: That was on an unofficial website.
AR: That's one of those weird things.  I don't know where they make it up from.
It may be though, and this is how the film business works, that there is a Sherlock
Holmes film that somebody wants to get the money for and they start to put things
out on the internet.
PB: Would you do a S herlock Holmes role?
AR: Probably not.  Because I did play him once in the theatre and it's very
proscribed that character.  There's not much you can do with it.  I should never say
never because who knows what the script might be.
PB: You've also won the Golden Globe for Rasputin? (If I pronounced it right)How
important are awards to you?
AR: I always think it's an ungodly (?) idea winning and losing in acting.  It doesn't
seem to me that it's a job that should be competitive - it's hard enough.  For the
people who sell the films it's important to them.  If you think of an awards show it's
free television and they get lots and lots of very famous people to show up unpaid.
Now, of course, what they're doing is they're wearing the clothes of famous
designers.  The designers get their clothes advertised.  It's a great big way of selling
two industries.  It's very nice when people appreciate your work, but you shouldn't
really take that side of it too seriously.
PB: On a lighter note, do you know Mel Smith personally?
AR: Very well.
PB: Was he at school the same time as you?
AR: No, but we've know each other very well for a long time.
PB: So you couldn't tell us any naughty stories?
AR: Mel Smith is a very naughty person.
PB: Remember it's kids' tv.
AR: He's a very naughty person.  He's also a very talented person.  I wouldn't want to do anything which shook your view of him.
PB: Which do you prefer- the film or the stage?
AR: You can be very happy and very miserable in both of them.  I just finished a year in a play so I'm very happy now to not be doing a play.  Because it's every night, it's seven shows a week and it's 2 1/2 hours every night and that gets to be pretty exhausting.
PB: What play was that?
AR: Private Lives.  I did it in London for five months and in New York for five months.  It's good to not be on stage but I think it would probably be good to get on stage in six months or so.
PB: Have a change?
AR: hmmm.
PB: What do think of the British Film Industry?
AR: If we had a film industry properly, if people would take the risks and fund it. The British film industry is the one that didn't fund Harry Potter - it's American.  So there you have an example.  Whoever the forces are weren't brave enough to find that kind of - it's a huge amount of money.  But pretty damn safe bet.  So you'd think maybe some smart banks would have got that together.
PB: What's the difference between acting on stage and on film?
AR: Not a lot, I don't think.  They sometimes say that acting on stage is like painting in oils, and acting on film is like painting in water colours.  The big difference is, of course, is that in a play you start at the beginning and you work through the middle and then the end.  Every night that's the line that you draw.  On film, of course, it's shot out of sequence so you have to have in your head a very strong sense of the shape of the story because you might be shooting, as I did on Love Actually, I shot the last scene first.
PB: Who's your favourite director?
AR: You can't get me to say that-say one and you offend somebody else.  I tell you
what-I just saw the film " Talk to Her" by Almodovar. He's a Spanish director and I'd like to work with him.
PB: What films had he done?
AR: Trouble is I know most of his films in Spanish.  The new film is called "Talk to
Her" in English.
PB: When an actor or actress has been in as many films as you Alan Rickman do
they actually remember all of their lines?
AR: While you're shooting?
PB: No, I mean years later-do you actually remember any of your lines?
AR: The first thing you do is as soon as you finish any job is remove any knowledge
of those lines from your head.
PB: Well, we actually have a Challenge Quiz for you.
AR: You do, well, I'll fail it, I'll tell you now.
PB: We have a budding actor, Mr. Nana Wilson, who has chosen some of his
favourite quotes from your movies.
AR: And I have to guess which film it was?
PB: Yes you do and if you do, you win a prize.
AR: What's that?
PB: It's a date with my mother because she absolutely adores you.
AR: Oh, okay.
PB: Are you married?
AR: Just a little.
The Challenge Quiz:
1.  If it hasn't been made into a movie it isn't worth knowing about is it?
AR: Close My Eyes or Truly Madly Deeply
Answer: Dogma
2. I'll cut your heart out with a spoon.
AR: Prince of Thieves, I know that one.
Answer: Correct
3. Thanks
AR: It can't be Sense & Sensibility because it would be Thank you. I'll say Dogma.
Answer: Galaxy Quest
4. Experimental weapon with experimental ammunition.
AR: Die Hard
Answer: Quigley Down Under
5. You're most troublesome for a security guard.
AR: Die Hard
Answer: Correct
6. Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr. Cowboy?
AR: Die Hard
Answer: Die Hard
7. My mother does not have a beard.
AR: Truly Madly Deeply
Answer: Truly Madly Deeply
PB: Well Done!
AR: Well done?
PB: Even though you didn't get them right you still have to go on a date with my
mother.  I promised.  Sorry.
AR: Okay. Thank you.
PB: Now moving on...We found a website - something on the internet.
Cookbooks -- Lists of Recipes. We've got some interesting recipes here and I was
wondering can you cook?
AR: Yeah - ish.
PB: Are you a good cook?
AR: Well, I'm alright.
PB: Do you cook for your wife?
AR: We cook together.
PB: Have you ever cooked "Chile Lime Shrimp."
AR: Never.
PB: Well, we've got some recipes here and we want you to try them out and we'd
like you to give us a call and tell us how it went.
AR: (Looking over recipes) Okay.  It's a Seduction Menu?  Oh I see.
What's that website?  Is that supposed to be things I like?
Ed. Note: Link to website they were looking at: Seduction Menu
PB: Yeah.  It says your name and many different types of foods and dishes by your
fans.  Your fans and critics wrote what they thought.
AR: (Squinting at website on interviewer's laptop on desk)
PB: Okay, just to finish off--a bit in the paper today.  They've actually made a game
console on Harry Potter.  Did you know that?  Do you have a Playstation?
AR: No.
PB: Your kids don't have one?
AR: I don't have any.
PB: You didn't get the game free?
AR: No.
PB: I have surely enjoyed this interview today and it was nice for you to come over. I hope you had a nice time.
AR: Thank you.  You were great.  You get the job."

March 25, 2003
This photo of Alan appeared in the Evening Standard last week.  It was taken at the premiere of Ian McKellan's new play, "Dance of Death":

Also, Alan appeared at Collateral Damage II in London last Friday and read an anti-war statement written by Sen. Byrd.  To read the entire text, CLICK HERE.  Here is a photo from the event:

Photo courtesy of Heidi Watson

March 18, 2003
Here is the Vanity Fair article that goes with the photo below:

Since 1995, Richard Curtis, who wrote the scripts for Four Weddings and A Funeral, Notting Hill, and Bridget Jones's Diary, has been providing movie-lovers with one very simple, albeit crucial pleasure: watching Hugh Grant trying to find love while saying "actually" a lot. In Curtis's new onew, Love Actually (whose full title is Love
Actually Is All Around), Grant shares the screen with a juggernaut of talent--Emma Thompson, ALAN RICKMAN, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, and Laura Linney, to name a few--and this time, says Curtis,"they're not just 35-year-old people looking for love." A multi-narrative film with casually interweaving stories in the style of Robert Altman, Love Actually examines love in its many forms--family love, childhood
crushes, even the affection between an aging rock star and his manager. The movie marks Curtis's debut as a director. "I thought, Ive hit 45.  If I dont do it myself now, I'd just have a heart attack next time," he says.  Along the way he gained an insight into why he has become the Go-To Guy when it comes to getting a romance on-screen. "One of the stories in this movie has a little boy who's in love, and as we were auditioning, I found out that most of the little boys we spoke to couldn't give a damn about girls," Curtis says. "I've known who I was in love with every day since I was five.  I can tell you all the name of the girls in sequence."

March 13, 2003
Today I have a treat to feast your eyes on-- a new pic of Alan with the cast from his upcoming film, "Love Actually" (to be released in Sept.):

March 5, 2003
Here's a new article (the parts that mention Alan are in blue):

Robyn Hitchcock

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

David Peschek
Tuesday March 4, 2003
The Guardian

There is nothing more tedious than watching other people do drugs. Watching the fruits of other people's drug-taking, however, is generally much more entertaining. To be fair, I have absolutely no idea whether Robyn Hitchcock, wonky idealogue of the Soft Boys, friend to the stars and the very definition of a cult, indulges - but negotiating the lysergic logic of his lyrics, you feel that the doors of perception have been not so much cleansed as painted in garish colours and left permanently ajar.

A birthday concert to celebrate, as Hitchcock explains after bounding on stage in the first of three overwhelmingly colourful shirts, "50 glorious years of me", brings out a similarly colourful gaggle of friends. As well as Soft Boys Morris Windsor and Kimberley Rew (a deft but largely unshowy guitarist), there is Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, expat ambassador of oddball Americana Peter Blegvad, Alan Rickman reading a poem (of course) and, hello, Peter Blake exiting the gents.

Hitchcock's is a particularly English brand of psychedelia, defiantly an acquired taste. (My companion, a Hitchcock virgin, displays amusingly visible discomfort through much of the show.)  In between songs he empties the contents of his mind like a madwoman's handbag, offering thoughts on asking Mozart for the soap in the shower; how, in the genetically modified future, we will all be "either Elvis or Marilyn"; and his hopes that Bush, Blair et al will "open their third eyes". My companion rolls his.

The songs themselves - the proud children of Dylan, Syd Barrett and the Beatles - work better when Hitchcock performs solo, or with a trio, than when there are as many as eight people on stage.  The influence on REM of the Soft Boys' marvellous 1980 debut Underwater Moonlight is obvious; sometimes, though, you wonder if it really takes this many people to sound like the Levellers. But Queen Elvis is beautiful and brave, the ancient English folk melody of The Speed of Things deeply affecting, the ambivalent kiss-off of She Doesn't Exist strange and haunting. Like all
surrealists, Hitchcock makes you look at familiar things askance and anew. If his
songs sometimes become tangled in self-consciously wide-eyed imagery, a
childlike playfulness carries him through. Then again, the poem read by Rickman, a kind of bleakly psychedelic Larkin, finds him at his most serious. "I'm a mirror cracked from side to side," he sings at one point, which pretty much sums it up.

February 28, 2003

For those fans who live in England, take note!

From the National Theatre (London):

"*COLLATERAL DAMAGE - Responses to War*

March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th at 5.15pm (45 minutes)
Lyttelton Circle Foyer, National Theatre

"Collateral Damage" is a series of free early evening events,informally staged at the National Theatre, in which a wide range of artists present their responses to the ongoing global situation.  The series aims to illuminate, examine, satirise and grapple with the issues that surround the impending war on Iraq.

Throughout history, war – and the prospect of war – has inspired numerous pieces of theatre, poetry, prose and music, providing insight and offering solace in unsettling times.

 As the world stands on the brink of further conflict, Collateral Damage aims to provoke and entertain with a variety of contributors including Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Lindsay Duncan, Hanif Kureishi, Jude Law, Patrick Marber, Corin Redgrave, Alan Rickman and John Sessions.

The latest details will be posted on the National Theatre website at:
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/collateraldamage

Admission is free and unticketed, although numbers may be limited.

*Friday 7 March 5.15pm*
Contributors include Eileen Atkins, Kevin Day, Lindsay Duncan, Jeremy Hardy, Hilton McRae, Corin Redgrave and members of the "Anything Goes" Company.

*Friday 14 March 5.15pm*
Contributors include Jeremy Hardy, Terry Jones, Joe Penhall, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman and John Sessions.

*Friday 21 March 5.15pm*
Contributors include Judi Dench, Hanif Kureishi, Jude Law, Maggie Steed and Harriet Walter.

*Friday 28 March 5.15pm*
Contributors include Patrick Marber, "Salam Ya Salan Cabaret" with Nadim Sawalha .
Details of participants are subject to change."

Now I'm really jealous of you Brits!

February 24, 2003
This photo of Alan with a brief article appeared in the new March issue of Harper's and Queen magazine.  See below for text:

He's No Angel.  Actor Alan Rickman.  Because..nobody does bad quite like Rickman.  ("I challenge you to write about me without using the word 'villain'"). Because...the actor spent 3 years as a dresser to Nigel Hawthorne and Ralph Richardson. Because...from his stage portrayal as Valmont in Dangerous Liasons, which played to packed audiences in the West End and on Broadway, to his roles in Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, nobody steals the show quite like Rickman.  Because...he proved he could be nice as the charming but pathetic
Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility.  Because....he has endeared himself to a whole new audience with his portrayal of the wicked Snape in the Harry Potter films.  Because...he's Truly, Madly, Deeply sexy, and women can't get enough of his unique charms.

February 20, 2003
Tomorrow is Alan's 57th birthday.  How will you celebrate it?  I've taken some screen caps of the "In Demand" video for your viewing pleasure.  Warning:  these pics are HOT, so proceed at your own risk!  You can find them in the Picture Gallery or simply CLICK HERE.  Something to watch this weekend:  BBC America will be airing the BAFTA awards (British Academy awards) live and commercial-free at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.  I haven't heard if Alan will be on the show, but there's always a good chance he will make an appearance.

February 13, 2003
Just in time for Valentine's Day--
This was in The Mail on Sunday, Feb. 2, in their YOU magazine.  Thanks to Angharad for the info.  It's an article about the "When Love Speaks" CD of Shakespeare's love sonnets and words read or sung by 52 different actors and actresses.  Alan is one of them and they have a whole page dedicated to him with a photo about why he chose Sonnet 130.  (You can hear him read the sonnet HERE).  This is is what he
said....

ALAN:  "This sonnet just makes me laugh.  It seems to be the rudest one--it even accuses her of having reeking breath--but in the last two lines it's revealed to be profoundly loving, and I love that contradiction.  To say the sonnets are romantic makes them sound very much like a Hallmark card.  They're very passionate, powerful, complicated, beautiful and tough.  They're much more than verbal Muzak.  Am I romantic?  I prefer to speak other people's romantic words than give away my own.  Love is...what is it: a million different things--whether it's in relation to your parents, your lover, your dog, whatever."

February 6, 2003
I am offering a new and improved version of the "In Demand" Texas tango video with AR for a limited time only. If you're interested in downloading this Quicktime version, now is your chance!  Because of the file size, I may have to delete it in the future, so don't delay.  The new version is copied directly from my factory CD and is much clearer and more complete.  This costs at least $30 on those auction sites.  Put those Ebay "creeps" out of business and get it for free here!  A must-have for all AR fans.  Have fun...

January 28, 2003
Today my page turns ONE YEAR OLD!  Coincidentally, it appears that I shall also surpass 100,000 hits today as well and I'll be searching for a new counter.  And now I have a surprise to celebrate my site's birthday-- I worked last weekend on transcribing an Alan interview from 1992 (Thanks to my friend, Linda B., from New Jersey).  You can find it on the page "From His Own Lips" OR simply CLICK HERE.

Some of you may have heard that my website was recently recommended by the BBC as a  source of info about Alan Rickman.  Ergo, I have added that notation to the main page.
 

January 24, 2003
Truly, Madly, Deeply will be aired 3 times this weekend on BBC America.
Here are the times:

Sat  Jan 25  08:00P   BBCAM- BBC America
Sat  Jan 25  10:30P   BBCAM- BBC America
Sun  Jan 26  06:00P   BBCAM- BBC America

Also, I've added the videogram made by Suzanne of "Painting With Light", a new commercial Alan made for Turner Classic Movies.  Check this out, it's charming!

January 23, 2003
There are new screen caps from King of the Hill episode "Joust Like a Woman" (with Alan) thanks to Claudia.  You will find them on the Television page.

And staying true to his colours as a left-wing political activist, Alan was present at an anti-war demonstration against Iraq (at Parliament in London) on Monday, Jan. 21st.  Here's a few photos, thanks to Doris.  Cute hat!

January 17, 2003
Today I added another photo page to the Picture Gallery.  Also, I've spiffed up the site a bit with new little "voice" icons at the bottom of each page.  Thanks to Laura for making them and allowing me to use them here.  I've also started a new page for 2003 News and Updates.  FYI, 2002 News is still available with a separate link.

January 15, 2003
This week's newsletter from whatsonstage.com has an interview with producer
Thelma Holt, who has this to say about Alan:

"...I love Alan Rickman. He's a fine actor and, though he'd hate me for saying it,
he's a very soft touch, particularly in terms of supporting the profession."

January 13, 2003
I redesigned the Chat page and have decided to start a weekly chat every Friday
evening at 10:00 pm.  I realize this time won't be convenient for everyone, but
that's the best time for me so I apologize in advance-- there's just no way to
accommodate all the time zones and everybody's schedule.  Hope to see you all
there!

Also, today I updated my Links list, removing a few bad links and adding some new
ones.  Check it out!

January 9, 2003
Happy New Year fellow Rickmanites!  Here's a few bits of news about the next
Harry Potter film:

According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, filming begins on Feb. 17 for
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Also, it's been announced that Gary
Oldman will have a role in the new HP movie.  Rumor has it that he will play the
part of Sirius Black.  Excellent choice, in my opinion!  Here's a pic: