Alan Rickman played two of the best villains of all time, now we know the reasons
One of the best actors in the history of cinema
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Although Alan Rickman managed to shine in each performance, raising the level of his characters, he undoubtedly showed a special talent for dominating the protagonists’ nemeses. Although the new generations know him thanks to the emblematic Severus Snape, one of the most powerful wizards in the Harry Potter saga, this is just one name in the long list of villains embodied by the British actor.
Talent and arrogance, the key formula for success
Alan Rickman was one of the best actors to play villains
Many of the people who have had the privilege of knowing the story behind the man who brought Severus Snape to life agree that his roles share a common denominator: the attitude of being above everyone else, a skill that he activated in front of the cameras, since he always showed himself to be a pleasant person off-screen.
In Die Hard (1988), one of the best action films of all time, we witness the ease with which Hans Gruber manages to undermine the protagonist John McClane. Although his plans are thwarted, he is bold, calculating and intelligent, and he refuses to accept defeat until the very end, nothing like the classic stereotypes of action villains.
In most of his performances, Rickman managed to satirize arrogance and use it to his advantage. In his view, screen time was not what mattered, but rather the ability to fill the space and convey emotion to the viewer.
Despite his ability to make any character great, the actor knew how to set limits, as demonstrated in his performance as the hated, and later loved, Hogwarts professor, where he could have swept the stage. Contrary to what happened in his role in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), where his extravagant behavior allowed him to devour his minutes on screen and turn a disposable role into a character difficult to forget.
Masterful use of non-verbal cues
Like few actors, Rickman did not need long lines of dialogue to project his characters, in fact, he did not even need to use words. With supreme skill, he managed to give depth through the balance between verbal and non-verbal signals.
It wasn’t what he said, but the way he said it. This was made clear in JK Rowling’s film adaptation, where even a simple “Hello, Potter” has the ability to generate unease. The deliberate contempt printed in the tone is combined with a stony face that conveys evil.
However, this whole attitude is transfigured in the scene where he dies alongside the young wizard. All the pride that characterized the character until that moment is dispelled in the face of the anguish, the pain and the torn attachment to Harry, without saying a word. Unquestionably, an epic and impressive performance, despite its level of complexity.
Villains that arouse liking
Severus Snape is Alan Rickman’s most famous villain.
Another hallmark of Rickman’s performance was his ability to create likable villains, characters who, while twistedly evil, are impossible to hate.
The actor will be remembered as a specialist in turning off his natural charisma, a skill that is quite difficult to master. His captivating personality was completely neutralized on stage, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) is the most obvious example of this, an unpleasant character who leads Benjamin Barker to become a brutal murderer.
Another irrefutable example is Harry, in Love Actually (2003), the way he flirts with his employee and breaks his wife’s heart after discovering his infidelity, makes us hate him. However, his stellar performance allows the character to arouse empathy, thanks to the way he humanizes him, showing him as someone detestable, but, ultimately, an ordinary person capable of making mistakes just like any of us.
Ultimately, Hans Gruber, Judge Turpin, The Sheriff of Nottingham and Severus Snape became icons thanks to the perfect performances of one of the most prolific actors in both theatre and film. Without complications, he knew how to give all his characters just enough of arrogance to make an impact just by his presence.
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