r/AlanRickman

one of my favorite things about Alan Rickman’s diaries is how he’d sometimes be writing about some frustrating moment on set, and then suddenly slip in a little pun.

Like this entry from November 16, 2009:

"An empty sound stage with David Yates, Ralph and me. David is the most impenetrable mix of sweet-natured and immovable. He prefers, really, to just tell you what the story is, who you are playing, what you are thinking and where you stand, move, sit, look. Ralph and I (in a boathouse) put our oars in and I see David making a huge effort to let us have our heads. We start to get somewhere oxygenated."

He even put "(in a boathouse)" in parentheses. I lost it.

And for anyone who didn’t know this little behind-the-scenes detail >!David Yates originally wanted Snape to be killed with Avada Kedavra instead of by Nagini. Alan had actually read the books and pushed back because Snape wouldn’t have been able to pass his memories to Harry afterward. He stood his ground against the change, and the film ultimately kept the version we know today.!<

I visited this exhibition in Edinburgh today, expecting to see a few old movie and screen costumes, but didn't expect to see some of favourite outfits from my favourite shows. The Caroline Bingley orange dress is even more beautiful in reality than it appeared on the screen. It was quite special getting to see these in person!

In order there are costumes from the 1995 Pride & Prejudice, the 1995 Sense & Sensibility, Indiana Jones, Poirot, and Downton Abbey.

I was gagged when I saw the other post on here because I too met Alan and the story felt identical almost. (I wanted to share these pics with you all and was unable to do so on the other post with my comment there. Don't mean to steal karma or thunder - hope this is okay, mods!)

It was 2011 in New York City and I was broke, having just graduated from college without a big kid job yet. I saw he was going to perform in Seminar off-Broadway. I’ve been obsessed with him for so long that I had to go, that this felt like my only chance to be in his presence. I put second row center ticket on my credit card, it was $250 but it was worth it.

A friend of mine who loved Alan as much as I did came with me and the play was magical. We salivated the whole time lol. After the play ended, we waited out front for what seemed like hours. It was maybe 15° F (-9C) outside and I wasn’t wearing gloves so I couldn’t really feel my hands eventually. That didn’t stop me.

Alan was the last person to come out and he spent the most amount of time out there signing autographs. He signed my play bill as well and moved onto the next person. When his car came and he was ready to leave, he started walking away from the crowd. I yelled out “Mr Rickman, Mr Rickman” before pausing. He turned around and looked at me confused. I then asked “could I shake your hand please!?” (I said this because I didn’t know what else to ask for and they weren’t allowing us to take pictures with him.)

He slowly turned around and walked back towards me. I remember putting my hand in his and going through the motion of shaking it, but I couldn’t even meet his eyes. I was too overwhelmed by the whole experience. I don’t remember what he smelled like or if he even said anything in that moment, but it was incredible to have that dream realized. I remember walking away with my friends, feeling high and untouchable. I can’t say much else, but I was able to get a few snaps of him secretly while he was signing autographs which are above.