Letters Of Alan Rickman Reveal He Wasn't Entirely Satisfied Playing Severus Snape

Alan Rickman had a long and successful career in Hollywood, but I think most people would say his role as Severus Snape in Harry Potter was one of his most iconic roles. While Rickman always seemed high up on the Harry Potter franchise throughout his time in it, old letters from the actor now going up for auction reveal that may not have always been the case. Deadline said some of the letters featuring Rickman expressing frustration with the role, such as this snippet from when he was filming The Half-Blood Prince:

“It’s as if David Yates has decided that this is not important in the scheme of things i.e. teen audience appeal."

That one can be taken either way. After all The Half-Blood Prince was a very big turning point for Rickman's character, so I could see Rickman getting upset for not being able to express something the way he wanted or something like that. That said, there's another reference to the films earlier in a letter written to him from producer David Heyman which shows Rickman having issues with Snape's role wasn't exactly a new thing:

“Thank you for making HP2 a success. I know, at times, you are frustrated but please know that you are an integral part of the films. And you are brilliant.”

It's a shame we don't have more context to this! I would love to know what was going on in Rickman's head during these films, as well as page through all the other letters he wrote in 40 years of acting! Hopefully whoever ends up getting these letters will be generous enough to share some context with fans somehow.