Rickman attended the Chelsea College of Art and made his way as a graphic artist in Soho. He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) which he attended from 1972 - 1974. While there, he won the Emile Littler Prize, the Forbes Robertson Prize, and the Bancroft Gold Medal. Since then, he has been a constant presence on the British stage.
Here are a few highlights of his career in theatre:
Antony And Cleopatra (1978)
Antony And Cleopatra (1998)
As You Like It (1985)
Bad Language (1983)
Cries From The Heart, Human Rights Watch (2003)
Dick Whittington (1978)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1986)
Love's Labour's Lost (1978)
Mephisto (1985-1986)
My Name Is Rachel Corrie (2006)
Private Lives (2002)
Royal Academy Of Arts (2000)
Sherlock Holmes (1976)
Tango At The End Of Winter (1991)
Tempest (1978)
The Peace Of The Brest (1988)
Troilus And Cressida (1985)
Winter Guest (1995)
While working with the Royal Shakespeare Company he starred in, amongst other aforementioned things, As You Like It. He made a particular impression as the male lead in the 1985 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. In 1986 he earned critical and popular acclaim as the elegant and heartless seducer. When the show came across the Atlantic in 1986, Rickman came with it to Broadway and there earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance.
Alan has also been featured in several musical works - most notably in a song composed by the English songwriter Adam Leonard. Moreover, the actor played a 'Master of Ceremonies' part in announcing the various instruments in Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells II on the track 'The Bell'. Mr. Rickman was also one of the many artists who recited Shakespearian sonnets (Sonnet 130) on the 2002-released When Love Speaks CD, and is also featured prominently in a Texas music-video entitled "In Demand", which premiered on Europe MTV in August 2000.
Filmography:
The Villa Golitsyn (2007), as Will Ludley
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), as Severus Snape
Nobel Son (2006), as Eli
Snow Cake (2006), as Alex
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), as Antoine Richis
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), as Severus Snape
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), as Severus Snape
Something the Lord Made (2004), as Dr. Alfred Blalock
Love Actually (2003), as Harry
King of the Hill-"Joust Like a Woman" (2002) as King Philip
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), as Severus Snape
The Search for John Gissing (2001), as John Gissing
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), as Severus Snape
Blow Dry (2001), as Phil Allen
Help! I'm a Fish! (2000), as the voice of Joe
Play (2000), as M
Galaxy Quest (1999), as Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus
Dogma (1999), as Metatron
Alan Rickman as Metatron in DogmaDark Harbor (1998), as David Weinberg
Judas Kiss (1998), as Detective David Friedman
The Winter Guest (1997) (director) (uncredited), Man in street
Michael Collins (1996), as Eamon de Valera
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996), as Grigori Rasputin
Sense and Sensibility (1995), as Colonel Brandon
An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) as P.L. O'Hara
Mesmer (1994), as Franz Mesmer
Bob Roberts (1992), as Lukas Hart III
Closet Land (1991), as The Interrogator
Close My Eyes (1991) as Sinclair Bryant
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), as the Sheriff of Nottingham
Truly Madly Deeply (1991) as Jaime
Quigley Down Under (1990), as Elliot Marston, an unscrupulous ranch owner
The January Man (1989), as Ed, the painter.
Die Hard (1988), as Hans Gruber.
My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun
Alan Rickman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
In this sonnet, Alan Rickman describes his mistress in a realistic and truthful way. He begins by saying that her eyes are "nothing like the sun." This line sets the tone for the whole poem which emphasizes the disparity between the classic ideal of beauty and the reality of human imperfection. He goes on to say that although her lips are red, coral is far more red, implying that her lips are not that red in reality. He also points out that her skin is not as white as snow and her hair is not made of gold, but instead, black wires grow on her head. The following lines further reveal that her cheeks are not rosy and that her breath doesn't smell pleasant.
However, Rickman still loves her despite her imperfections. He admits that although music sounds better than her speaking voice, he still loves to hear her speak. He also acknowledges that he has never seen a goddess walking on earth, but his mistress doesn't need to have that kind of perfection to be loved. He concludes by saying that he thinks of his love as rare as anyone whom false compare belied.
Through this sonnet, Rickman wants to show that there is beauty in imperfection, and true love is not based on one's appearance or external characteristics, but on the inner character and qualities of a person.
Line by Line Meaning
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
My lover's eyes are not comparable to the brilliance of the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
Her lips are not as red as coral, but rather a subdued tone;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
Her breasts are not as white as snow, but rather a duller color;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
Her hairs are not smooth and straight, but rather coarse and black;
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
I have seen roses which are both red and white in coloration,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
But I don't see this same beauty reflected in my lover's cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Some fragrances are more pleasant to me
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
than the breath that comes from my lover.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
I love hearing her speak, but I acknowledge that music is a more pleasing sound.
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
Music is simply more enjoyable to listen to than anything else.
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
I have never seen a divine being walking;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
when my lover walks, she puts her feet on the ground just like anyone else might.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
And yet, I truly do believe that my love is unique and special
As any she belied with false compare.
in a way that surpasses the love that others might falsely compare to perfection.
Contributed by Sydney G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EmpressMeg
Though I ADORE Rickman's voice, I've never heard him recite anything before (though I was meaning to look for such things eventually). I happened upon this during a search for something else. I figured it must sound rather nice and pleasurable, too, because it's Alan Rickman. So I clicked it, ONLY intending to save it for later though (when I could simply appreciate the substance and sound of it without interruption) and of course it started to play right away, as YouTube videos do. Normally I'd ignore the audio, temporarily mentally label it as "noise" so I could hit pause -- as I do with many of my "watch later" videos. But...
I actually STOPPED BREATHING at the first word without even realizing it. Caught me completely off-guard. I didn't move. Three words in and I shook myself out of it, frantically going for the pause button.
My cheeks are as hot and red as if I were walking outside during a heat advisory, on the edge of heat stroke -- no joke. Now I'm short of breath and having a bit of an asthma attack. Dear gods!
That voice.. It's like he's physically close to me, in a small space, and speaking right in my ear. Yet, I'm somehow hearing it and feeling it all over my skin and in every bone of my body. Deep, liquid, velvet. And that's just on my phone! Only three words..!
Later tonight, I'll definitely want my good headphones so I can fully appreciate the audio and substance as I take it in full. ... For now, I'm going to continue trying to regain proper function of my lungs with breathing exercises.
I'll be back later with something more substantial to say about the recitation -- of it and him. I may be beyond words though, so we'll see.
HOLY
@withlove7619
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
@MrKC23
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
@Oleg.1970
Од слонця ніц в очах моєї пані,
Кораль ружанець рожевіш од губ,
Ґдиж сьнєґ єст бялим - в неї перса тьмяні,
Ґдиж влос єст дротем - з дроту в неї чуб;
Дамасці ружі, білі і червоні,
Зась видівєм – не в неї на щоках,
І більш приємні вшелькі інне воні,
Ніж подиху моєї пані пах.
Люблю я слухати, ґди розмовляєт,
Хоч музика миліші звуки тче:
Не зрівєм, як богиня походжаєт –
Моя ж бо пані, йшовши, ґрунт товче:
Та, пробі, дорожу моїм коханням,
Як та якась – брехливим порівнянням.
Переклад - Ігор Костецький (стилізація під давньоруську мову).
@LizzaVetta
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun*;
If hairs be wires**, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked***, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks,
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go -
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare**
As any she belied with false compare.***
Ее глаза на солнце не похожи,
Коралл краснее, чем ее уста,
Снег с грудью милой не одно и то же,
Из черных проволок ее коса.
Есть много роз пунцовых, белых, красных,
Но я не вижу их в ее чертах, -
Хоть благовоний много есть прекрасных,
Увы, но только не в ее устах.
Меня ее ворчанье восхищает,
Но музыка звучит совсем не так.
Не знаю, как богини выступают,
Но госпожи моей не легок шаг.
И все-таки, клянусь, она милее,
Чем лучшая из смертных рядом с нею.
@user-qk7vo5dd3k
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
@annadau8612
Alan Rickman's voice feels like melted dark chocolate to the ears! Thank you for sharing this!
@kimhopejkmin4647
My English teacher showed us this today in class and I as a total Alan Rickman fan freaked out, I love him his voice is so wonderful
@sowhibsy
OMG same thing happened to me except she sent us a link and we had to watch it ourselves
@AngelOfMusic2
Omg this wasn't my sonnet, but when my ELA teacher was showing us people that have said this, she was simping over him too😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤
@queenofthesharks5839
He is just wonderful. We lost a spectacular man and a fantastic voice.
@kerrybear76
Holy shit......I love this man. Still so sad he’s gone. He could read me the damn phone book.
@olgayaleo729
hear, hear...
@Useruser-qn7wi
OH MY GOD. What a voice. What a man..
@jdawn1982
My favorite recording of this sonnet. I miss his voice. 💔
@heather9329
This is my favorite Shakespeare sonnet
Someone very dear to me used to read this out to me ❤❤