Alan Rickman’s secret diary reveals why he kept playing Snape despite health issues

The secret diary of Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman has revealed the reason he kept playing Severus Snape, despite his health issues.

The late great Rickman played Snape in all eight Harry Potter films, and died in January of 2016 at the age of 69.

Rickman died of pancreatic cancer, and was first diagnosed with the disease in 2005, prior to the filming of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

A year on, doctors decided to remove Rickman’s entire prostate.

Weeks after his release from hospital, Rickman wrote in his diary, which was published online by The Guardian after his death, the reason he had decided to carry on playing Professor Snape.

Rickman as Snape (Warner Brothers)

He wrote: “Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story’.”

This came after an entry written following the release of the second film in which Rickman said: “Talking to [his agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen.

"But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don't want to hear it.”

His entries also pointed to conversations with controversial Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling as a source of hope throughout his times doubting the role.

He said in one entry: “[Rowling] nervously lets me in on a few glimpses of Snape's background.

Rickman died in 2016 (Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

“Talking to her is talking to someone who lives these stories, not invents them.”

He then wrote another entry after reading the last book where Snape (17-year-old spoiler incoming) dies.

He said: “I have finished reading the last Harry Potter book.

“Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him to his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and calls his son Albus Severus.

“This was a genuine rite of passage, one small piece of information from Jo Rowling seven years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to.”

The role of Snape will not, however, be solely synonymous with Rickman forever, as it was announced recently that HBO and Warner Brothers had a man in mind to take on the role in their upcoming Harry Potter reboot TV show.

Paapa Essiedu is being eyed to play the professor in the upcoming second crack at adapting the books, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Essiedu has previously starred in I May Destroy You, Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, as well as one of the most tear-jerking films of 2024, The Outrun, where he starred alongside Saoirse Ronan.