In focus: Alan Rickman

Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born on February 21^st 1946 in Acton, West London to a Welsh mother called Margaret and an Irish father called Bernard. He had an older brother (David), then a younger brother (Michael) and sister (Sheila). He enrolled at the Chelsea College of Art and Design where he met his partner Rima Horton and later spent a year at the Royal College of Art. He founded an amateur acting group with Horton called the Brook Green Players.

He formed a graphic design company with friends and continued working in this field until the age of 26, when he wrote to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and received a scholarship. After RADA, he took a number of acting jobs around the UK in a variety of comedies, dramas and musicals.

He then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) for a year, appearing in The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Antony and Cleopatra, before returning to rep. He made his TV debut in 1978 as Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet. This was followed by roles in Thérèse Raquin, Smiley’s People and an adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s The Barchester Chronicles, as the Reverend Obadiah Slope.

Between 1985 and 1987, Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses in London and then on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony award. When a film version was made, he was denied the same role, which instead went to John Malkovich. However, producer Joel Silver had seen his performance and asked him to star in Die Hard opposite Bruce Willis. This was Rickman’s first movie appearance and his role as the villainous Hans Gruber, thwarted by Willis’ cop John McClane, set the standard for British actors playing the bad guys in Hollywood films.

In 1990, Alan starred in Anthony Minghella’s Truly, Madly, Deeply opposite Juliet Stevenson. Then he played the flamboyant and devilish Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, for which he won a BAFTA. He appeared in Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, with Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay for the film, adapted from Jane Austen’s novel. Then Rickman took up directing duties for The Winter Guest starring Emma Thompson.

He was on fine comedic form playing Metatron, the voice of God, in Kevin Smith’s Dogma and Alexander Dane in the spoof sci-fi film Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver. In 2001, Rickman starred in the first film in the hugely successful British fantasy series adapted from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. He took on the role of Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and would star in the subsequent seven movies as well.

Alan stayed true to his roots, remaining committed to the British stage, and in 2003 he was named Vice Chairman of RADA. He joined an all-star cast for Richard Curtis’ Love Actually, which included Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy. He then voiced Marvin the paranoid android in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and reunited with Sigourney Weaver for the touching drama Snow Cake.

Rickman worked with Tim Burton for the movie adaptation of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which saw him singing with Johnny Depp, and Alice in Wonderland, where he provided the voice for the Blue Caterpillar.

Rickman recently starred in both parts of the final Harry Potter film, and will next be appearing in Gambit, written by the Coen brothers. The film, which is due in September 2012, follows an art curator who cons a wealthy collector into buying a fake Monet painting, and also stars Cameron Diaz and Colin Firth.

5 Recommended Films: 

• Die Hard 
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 
• Galaxy Quest 
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 
• Sense and Sensibility

Other films to watch: Harry Potter film series, Dogma, Snow Cake, Michael Collins, Love Actually, Truly Madly Deeply, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Mesmer, An Awfully Big Adventure.

5 Movie Quotes:

• “I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life. We can go any way you want it. You can walk out of here or be carried out. But have no illusions. We are in charge. So, decide now, each of you. And please remember: we have left nothing to chance.” – Hans Gruber in Die Hard 
• “Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.” – Metatron in Dogma 
• “There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention!” – Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 
• “Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it? That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas!” – Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 
• “You just... know? Once again, you astonish me with your gifts Potter. Gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must be, to be the chosen one.” – Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

5 Pieces of Trivia: 

• While filming Die Hard (1988), he was found to be proficient at mimicking American accents, and a scene in which Hans Gruber and John McClane finally meet was then added to the script. 
• Auditioned for the character of Rimmer in the sci-fi TV series Red Dwarf, which went to Chris Barrie. 
• Featured twice in the Times Online's "The 50 Best Movie Villains" chart: he had the 41st position for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and the 10th as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988). 
• Was Richard Curtis's first choice to play Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Curtis was very hesitant in casting Hugh Grant as he had so wanted Rickman. 
• For the shot where Hans Gruber falls from the top of the building in Die Hard (1988), he was actually dropped by a stuntman from a 20-foot high model onto an air bag. To get a genuine surprised look, the stunt man dropped him on the count of two instead of three.

In focus: Sigourney Weaver

Susan Alexandra Weaver was born on October 8^th 1949 in New York City. At school she was always much taller than her classmates (she reached 5’ 10’’ by the age of 13!) so was picked on and in order to gain their acceptance, she became the class clown.

She changed her name to Sigourney and later she trained at the Yale School of Drama in New Haven, where one of her classmates was Meryl Streep. She made her theatrical debut in 1973 in Watergate Classics. After finishing her studies, Sigourney pursued a stage career for a while before breaking into films in 1977 with Woody Allen’s Annie Hall. A couple of years later she starred in the film that would make her a star: Alien. Her character, Ellen Ripley, was tough and intelligent, and Ridley Scott’s film was a big hit.

Following this success, she appeared with William Hurt in Eyewitness and with Mel Gibson in The Year of Living Dangerously and became married to Jim Simpson in 1984. Then came another popular film, comedy fantasy Ghost Busters, with Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd. She reprised her role as Ellen Ripley in Aliens, which was a huge success, and was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar.

A very productive period followed, with Weaver starring in Gorillas in the Mist, Working Girl, Ghostbusters II, Dave and Alien 3. She also gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Simpson, on April 13^th 1980. Sigourney played Ellen Ripley one more time in Alien: Resurrection and won a BAFTA and received a Golden Globe nomination for Ang Lee’s The Ice Storm.

She then took on a few comedy films; the sci-fi spoof Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen and Alan Rickman, 60s spy comedy Company Man, and Heartbreakers with Gene Hackman, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ray Liotta, about mother and daughter con artists who seduce wealthy men.

In 2003, Sigourney was ranked #20 on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time. She was one of only two woman to make it into the Top 20, the other being Audrey Hepburn. Weaver reunited with Alan Rickman in the 2006 independent film Snow Cake, in which she played a high-functioning autistic woman whose daughter is killed in a car crash. Her well-researched performance was very believable and touching and the film was screened at a number of international film festivals.

At the age of 60, she reunited with her Aliens director James Cameron for his massive blockbuster hit Avatar, which became the top box-office success of all time. She still continues to surprise and entertain both her fans and the people she works with and has earned great respect in the industry. She played the baddie in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s Paul and has many projects in the works, included a rumoured appearance in the forthcoming Ghostbusters III movie.

5 Recommended Films:

• Aliens 
• Alien 
• Ghost Busters 
• Galaxy Quest 
• Gorillas in the Mist

Other films to watch: Avatar, The Ice Storm, Alien3, Alien: Resurrection, The Village, Snow Cake, Dave, Heartbreakers, Ghostbusters II, Working Girl, Paul, Vantage Point, Infamous, Holes, Imaginary Heroes, Death and the Maiden, The Year of Living Dangerously.

5 Movie Quotes:

• “Final report of the commercial starship Nostromo, third officer reporting. The other members of the crew, Kane, Lambert, Parker, Brett, Ash and Captain Dallas, are dead. Cargo and ship destroyed. I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, the network will pick me up. This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.” – Ellen Ripley in Alien
• “You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage.” – Ellen Ripley in Aliens 
• "You like this ring? You want to keep the hand this ring is on? If I see or hear or smell you anywhere near my gorillas, you'll be writing with your other hand and I'll have a new ashtray.” – Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist 
• “Fred, you had a part people loved. I mean, my TV Guide interview was six paragraphs about my *boobs* and how they fit into my suit. No one bothered to ask me what I do on the show.” – Gwen DeMarco in Galaxy Quest 
• “Look, this wasn't here! There was *nothing* here! There was this... space! And there was a building or something with flames coming out of it, and there were creatures writhing around, and they were growling and snarling. And there were flames, and I heard a voice say ‘Zuul’! It was right here.” – Dana Barrett in Ghost Busters

5 Pieces of Trivia:

• Her salary for Alien: Resurrection (1997) was more than the entire cost of the original Alien (1979) movie. 
• She changed her name from Susan to Sigourney after reading The Great Gatsby. 
• She made her movie debut in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977), where she was on-screen for just 6 seconds. 
• In the film Alien: Resurrection (1997) she actually managed to sink the basketball into the hoop backwards on the first take, even though she wasn't supposed to or intended to. The shot was almost ruined because Ron Perlman broke character because he was so amazed. 
• She is one of the very few actors who have been nominated for both a Supporting (Working Girl) and Lead Acting (Gorillas in the Mist) Academy Award in the same year for their achievements in two different films.

In focus: Gary Oldman

Leonard Gary Oldman was born on March 21^st 1958 in New Cross, London. He trained at the Rose Bruford Drama College and then went on to appear in a number of plays including Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane and Edward Bond’s The Pope’s Wedding, which earned him awards and critical praise. This led to a long run of work with the Royal Court and Royal Shakespeare Company.

His film career started with a small part in Remembrance in 1982 with Timothy Spall. Then he played Coxy, a racist skinhead, in Mike Leigh’s Meantime. His major breakthrough came when director Alex Cox cast him in the lead role of Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy. Oldman followed this by playing Joe Orton in Stephen Frears’ Prick Up Your Ears, written by Alan Bennett and co-starring Alfred Molina, a part which earned him a BAFTA nomination. He also appeared onstage with Molina in Caryl Churchill’s Serious Money, a play which introduced him to the actress Lesley Manville. They married in 1987 and had a son called Alfie in 1988 but sadly, the marriage didn’t last and they divorced in 1990.

Gary began to balance his film roles between US movies and more low-key British ones. In 1990 he starred alongside Tim Roth in Tom Stoppard’s film adaptation of his hit play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, while also appearing with Sean Penn in State of Grace. It would be the director of this film, Phil Joanou, who would introduce him to Uma Thurman, and the pair hit it off immediately, marrying in October 1990.

Oldman’s first major Hollywood lead role came in 1992, with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, in which he played the infamous vampire Count. Unfortunately, his marriage to Uma Thurman broke down that same year. But he followed his success as Dracula with a series of bad guy roles in films such as Leon, The Fifth Element, Air Force One and Lost in Space. His marriage to model and photographer Donya Fiorentino (ex-wife of David Fincher) gifted him with two sons, Gulliver and Charlie, but was tumultuous to say the least.

In 1997, Gary made his directorial debut with Nil By Mouth, a hard-hitting film loosely based around his experiences growing up, which deals with drink, drugs and domestic abuse. Nil By Mouth won BAFTAs for Best British Film and Best Screenplay and Gary was nominated for the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival.

A few quiet years followed, with only small roles in films such as Hannibal (in which he was unrecognizable) and little-known movies like Interstate 60. Off-screen he was involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with Fiorentino, during which she made some outrageous claims about his behaviour. The judge found in his favour and he gained custody of their children.

Gary would storm back onto the big screen in 2004, joining the hugely successful Harry Potter series for what is widely considered to be the best installment, The Prisoner of Azkaban. The following year he starred in the first film in another popular franchise, Batman Begins. In both of these he had broken away from the usual ‘bad guy’ roles with which he is most associated, by becoming a godfather to Harry Potter and an ally in Batman’s fight against crime.

Continuing to divide his work between low-key films and big budget Hollywood, Oldman also finds time to do the occasional classic villainous role, such as in The Book of Eli. He has a number of movies on the horizon, including the much anticipated The Dark Knight Rises and the lead role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

5 Recommended Films:

•  Leon 
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula 
• Sid & Nancy
•  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
• The Dark Knight

Other films to watch: Prick Up Your Ears, The Fifth Element, Air Force One, Romeo is Bleeding, State of Grace, Criminal Law, Batman Begins, The Book of Eli, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Contender, Immortal Beloved, Basquiat, Interstate 60, Murder in the First, Chattahoochee

 5 Movie Quotes:

• “I like these calm little moments before the storm. It reminds me of Beethoven. Can you hear it? It's like when you put your head to the grass and you can hear the growin' and you can hear the insects. Do you like Beethoven?” – Norman Stansfield in Leon 
• “People think that Hell is fire and brimstone and the Devil poking you in the butt with a pitchfork, but it's not. Hell is when you should have walked away, but you didn't.” – Jack Grimaldi in Romeo is Bleeding 
• “You who murdered a hundred thousand Iraqis to save a nickel on a gallon of gas are going to lecture me on the rules of war?” – Ivan Korshunov in Air Force One 
• “Because he's the hero Gotham deserves. But not the one it needs right now. And so we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A dark knight.” – Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight 
• “You will, I trust, excuse me if I do not join you. But, I have already dined, and I never drink... wine.” – Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

5 Pieces of Trivia:

• His sister Laila Morse appeared in Nil By Mouth and plays Big Mo in EastEnders.
• He sings with David Bowie on the song ‘You’ve Been Around’ from Reeves Gabrels’ 1995 album The Secret Squall of Now. 
• He has never been nominated for an Academy Award. 
• He has a tiny cameo in the 1990 film Henry & June, where he’s credited as ‘Maurice Escargot’. 
• He directed a music video for the Jewish Hip-Hop group Chutzpah, shot entirely on Nokia Cell Phones (he is also a spokesperson for Nokia). The actress Juliet Landau directed a 25 minute documentary, Take Flight: Gary Oldman Directs Chutzpah (2009) about the making of the music video.