'Harry Potter': Snape Star Alan Rickman Told Story's End By JK Rowling

Turns out that Professor Snape was a secret double agent. So what does that make Alan Rickman, the man who played him in the "Harry Potter" films, if he secretly knew that his character was a secret double agent?

A very well prepared actor, for one.

The Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor was taken aside by Potter author JK Rowling and told Snape's arc to the end of the series -- and Snape's true allegiance -- years before the final book in the series, "The Deathly Hallows," was released. That enabled him to have a certain insight to the character that not even anyone on set could match.

"It was quite amusing, too, because there were times when a director would tell Alan what to do in a scene and he would say something like, 'No I can't do that - I know what is going to happen and you don't'" series producer David Heyman told the LA Times. "He had a real understanding of the character and now looking back, you can see there was always more going on there -- a look, an expression, a sentiment -- that hint at what is to come ... the shadow that he casts in these films is a huge one and the emotion he conveys is immeasurable."

That secret knowledge is something Rickman hinted at last summer.

"Certainly, I did say I needed to talk to her before I could get a handle on how to play it, and we did have a phone conversation," he told RTE. "She certainly didn't tell me what the end of the story was going to be in any way at all, so I was having to buy the books along with everybody else to find out, 'And now what?' No, she gave me one little piece of information, which I always said I would never share with anybody and never have, and never will. It wasn't a plot point, or crucial in any tangible way, but it was crucial to me as a piece of information that made me travel down that road rather than that one or that one or that one."

For more, click over to the LA Times.

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Comments

[ked2130]

01:23 AM on 01/08/2012

I absolutely adore Alan Rickman.. He's just such a rockstar in every way and one of my favorite actors of all time, along with my beloved Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort). I have been a die-hard Pott-head for years and I'll love this series for as long as I'll live. Thanks, JK, for giving me something to live for in high school hahah. I'll always be a fan! :)

[Marmashi]

06:40 PM on 01/07/2012

Alan Rickman is truly a great actor. I appreciated it when I saw how well he did Snape.
I love the Harry Potter series and am glad they made a bazillion dollars so they could get the best actors in it.
It has been a great journey for us all. Thank you JK Rowling.

[mffl]

05:11 PM on 01/07/2012

He was perfect as Marvin in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!!! So morose and yet so funny.

[O K Ali]

03:07 PM on 01/07/2012

He was excellent in Sweeney Todd too, as Judge Turpin. "You gandered at my ward, Johanna. You gandered at her. YES, sir, you gandered!"

[O K Ali]

03:01 PM on 01/07/2012

I felt more empathy for Snape as the series progressed. He loved Harry's mother, but was bullied by his father. He was given the greatest task out of all the characters, and was only recognized posthumously.

[CeeMac]

11:03 AM on 01/07/2012

Alan Rickman is one of my favorite actors. His performance in Love Actually is brilliant.

[olddognewtrick]

03:00 AM on 01/07/2012

gas?

[aznurse]

11:56 PM on 01/06/2012

he was hilarious in Gallaxy Quest

[cabrobst]

05:40 PM on 01/06/2012

Snape is my favorite Rowling character. His story is what gives the whole depth. His love for Harry's mother, his secret love for Harry, gave poignancy to a franchise that could otherwise have just as well been only a video game.

[Marmashi]

06:45 PM on 01/07/2012

I did not get any secret love for Harry at all. I thought he loved Lily and hated James. Harry was probably a resentment for him since he did not get to win Lily's hand and Harry reminded him of that. I thought Snape was trying to get back at Voldemort for killing her so he had to protect Harry because Dumbledore said it was necessary. (Not knowing why --he did it anyway.)
I could be wrong here. Where did you see secret love for Harry?

[LiberalDem]

09:55 PM on 01/07/2012

I didn't see any secret love for Harry. I thought that Dumbledore very intelligently played the trump card, which was Snape's sincere love for Lily Potter, and used that to convince Snape to work as a double agent.

There was never any love lost between Harry and Snape,IMO. What Harry learns from Snape's memory helps him develop a respect for Snape, and which led to what I personally found among the most moving scenes in conclusion of the last book, which was Harry's statement to his younger son that Severus Snape was one of the most courageous men he ever knew.

Finally, Alan Rickman is simpy a tremendously gifted actor.

[CPAwADD]

02:58 PM on 01/06/2012

Anyone with a sense of plotting and drama knew that Snape was a double agent. Dumbledore always trusted Snape and Dumbledore was wise.

[JazzyJim]

12:30 PM on 01/06/2012

The books came before the movies. I would assume he knew the end before taking the job. But that's just me.

[Mac1000]

12:58 PM on 01/06/2012

The last book came after they started filming the movies.

[JLHCA]

12:17 AM on 01/07/2012

The first movie came out 7 years before the last book came out. No way for him to know.

[Anne7]

11:39 AM on 01/06/2012

I absolutely loved him in all the movies. I treasured every word of the books. The movies did a good job of telling the story, but the books had so much more in them.

[peterack]

08:13 AM on 01/06/2012

Great. Thanks. Now that I was settled on finally reading the series...I don't' need to! In advance, I appreciate the hours of actual life you just returned to me.

[Anne7]

11:39 AM on 01/06/2012

Don't be silly! Read the books!

[O K Ali]

03:03 PM on 01/07/2012

You had ample time to get started, you can't cry spoiler alert. Read the books anyway, there is a lot that wasn't in the film.

[spkninglsh]

07:19 AM on 01/06/2012

Turn to page three hundred and ninety four.

[JediGoddess]

01:39 AM on 01/06/2012

Alan Rickman is one of my favorite actor hands down. He could read a phone book and I would not get bored for one second...