Born on February 1946 in Hammersmith, London, Alan Rickman has starred many notable films, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Sheriff of Nottingham), Die Hard (Hans Gruber), Sense and Sensibility (Colonel Brandon), Dogma (Metatron), Galaxy Quest (Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus), and Love Actually (Harry). He has played the role of the potions master Severus Snape in all of the Harry Potter films so far.

He attended the Chelsea College of Art and was a graphic artist. He obtained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Art, at which he received various awards such as the Forbes Robertson Prize, The Emile Littler and the Bancroft Medal.

In 1996, Rickman won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his role as Rasputin in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

Rickman's recent films include the fifth Harry Potter film (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Nobel Son, Snow Cake and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.