There is no doubt at this point that Alan Rickman's portrayal of Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series was iconic. Even years after his passing, fans and colleagues of the late actor still have high regard for his performance which was also highlighted in the reunion special that aired earlier this year.
The Guardian recently shared some excerpts from the late actor's diaries that are now being published and set for release this October which gave us some insights about why Rickman decided to continue playing the role throughout the entire film series despite the health issues that he had prior to filming Order of the Phoenix.
"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,'," Rickman wrote.
The late actor wrote the entry weeks after he was released from the hospital when he had surgery as a result of the diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005.
The soon-to-release diary also revealed more honest insights from the actor regarding his experience working in the Harry Potter franchise. While he originally planned to exit the role after Chamber of Secrets, he ended up staying throughout the entire run.
Despite his mixed feelings about being part of the franchise, in a 2007 entry, Rickman wrote his enthusiasm about how the final book, Deathly Hallows, ended his character's story in a satisfying way.
"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 seven years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to," he wrote.
It is interesting to read Rickman's thoughts about his experience in the Harry Potter franchise years after his death as it gave us actual insights into what his mindsets were during that time. In the end, it looks like he still had a pleasant experience overall and was satisfied with his contribution to the series.
Also Read: Harry Potter: Alan Rickman Compared Snape's Death to Japanese Epic
The late actor's diary, Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries, is set to release this October 4.
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