Madly, Deeply

November 15, 2022
The beloved actor invites us into his daily life. This "distillation of more than a million words," writes editor Taylor, "tells the story of what it meant to be one of the most f�ted and admired actors in the decades immediately before and after the dawn of the third millennium." In 1978, Rickman (1946-2016) wrote about his "ruthless determination to be an ACTOR, not anybody's puppet." Among other topics, the author addresses collapsed projects, "so many No's," friendships, deaths, dining, and politics, not to mention plenty of strong opinions about movies: "Jurassic Park--what the hell is the plot?"; Forrest Gump: "horrific"; Remains of the Day: "a gloriously crafted film with [Anthony] Hopkins quite wonderful." Throughout, the entries are forthright, perceptive, and witty. He writes about the "jumbled and intense "Awfully Big Adventure and The Winter Guest, which he directed. In 1995, Rickman admits, "I am a bully. But it's only a noise I make to get rid of the silence." In 2001, "Harry Potter is offered, and he recounts his first conversation with Joanne Rowling: "There are things that only Snape & you know--I need to know." Attending the premiere, he writes, "the film should only be seen on a big screen. It acquires a scale and depth that matches the hideous score by John Williams." Arriving at the Radio City premiere of Harry Potter 3, a "very grown up movie," he felt "like a Beatle." After an interview in October 2005: "Still they want to talk about stuff from 20 years ago or HP, HP, HP." Bottle Shock, he writes, has a "growing and undeniably great heart." On July 3, 2015, he writes, "Appointment made w. haematologist." On July 14, he received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: "A different kind of diary now." The final entry came on Dec. 12, 2015, and Rickman died a month later. The book contains a foreword by Emma Thompson and a moving afterword by Rickman's wife, Rima Horton. It's a joy to spend time in Rickman's company.

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