Emma Thompson Spills on Alan Rickman’s Most Challenging Role
Emma Thompson reveals Alan Rickman’s struggle with being typecast as a villain, and how his turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves brought unexpected hurdles to his career.
Alan Rickman’s career is packed with unforgettable characters, but it turns out he wasn’t always keen on being the bloke causing trouble for the hero. Emma Thompson, who worked alongside Rickman in Sense and Sensibility, recently shared a bit of insight into how he felt about his on-screen reputation. She recalled how much he enjoyed stepping into the shoes of a good guy for once, after years of being cast as the villain.
“Alan Rickman, God rest him, he was so happy to be playing someone heroic and nice,”
she said.
“Because he was so fed up with people wanting him to be the Sheriff of Nottingham.”
Rickman’s portrayal of the Sheriff in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is often mentioned in the same breath as his other iconic roles, like Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. In the 1991 film, he was in top form, delivering lines about cancelling Christmas and threatening all sorts of mayhem, which ended up earning him a BAFTA nod. But while punters loved seeing him take the mickey as the villain, that role ended up being a bit of a double-edged sword for Rickman himself.
Breaking Out of the Villain Mould
Despite the acclaim, Rickman found himself pigeonholed. The industry seemed to have him pegged as the go-to bad guy, which wasn’t exactly what he was after. Thompson’s comments highlight just how much Rickman relished the chance to play someone with a bit more heart. His turn as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility was a breath of fresh air for him, letting him show a different side that didn’t involve plotting or scheming.
It wasn’t just Colonel Brandon, either. Rickman’s filmography is dotted with roles where he got to be the hero, or at least a decent bloke. In Truly, Madly, Deeply, he played a devoted boyfriend from beyond the grave. In Dogma, he was Metatron, the voice of God, and in Galaxy Quest, he took on the role of Alexander Dane, a washed-up actor who finds his moment of glory. These parts gave him a chance to break away from the villain stereotype and show off his range.
Audiences Loved Both Sides
Even though Rickman might have been tired of always being cast as the baddie, audiences couldn’t get enough of him, no matter which side he was on. Whether he was plotting against the hero or saving the day, he brought a level of depth and charisma that made every performance memorable. It’s no wonder his work continues to be celebrated, years after those films first hit the big screen.
Rickman’s legacy is a mix of scene-stealing villains and quietly powerful heroes. While the industry may have tried to box him in, he managed to leave his mark in roles that went far beyond the usual expectations. As Thompson’s memories show, sometimes the most challenging roles are the ones that stick with an actor the longest.