Daniel Radcliffe on Alan Rickman: "I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career"
"Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny... he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child," says Radcliffe of his Harry Potter co-star
Daniel Radcliffe grew up working with Alan Rickman, spending some of his formative years acting opposite him on the Harry Potter films. Following the sad news of Rickman's death, Radcliffe posted this heartfelt statement about the "extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny" man who taught him lessons he says he will carry "for the rest of my life".
Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I'm pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn't have to do that. I know other people who've been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say "if you call Alan, it doesn't matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he's doing, he'll get back to you within a day".
People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner (or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child.
Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.
