He is apoplectic when Harry is unexpectedly entered into the Triwizard Tournament. In 2001, Rickman introduced himself to a whole new, younger generation of fans by taking on the role of Severus Snape in the film versions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). Harry Potter is a generation-defining phenomenon that will echo for years to come, and Rickman's Severus Snape was a major player in the Potter universe, figuring heavily in … In 1978, he performed with the Court Drama Group, gaining roles in Romeo and Juliet and A View from the Bridge, among other plays. I love America because whenever I go home -- there's something about England and coming from England -- but as soon as you walk down the steps of the plane, you shrink. [36] Snape is adept at reversing or containing potentially fatal damage from other dark curses as well, due to his vast knowledge of Dark Arts, as he does when Dumbledore[41] and then Katie Bell[63] are cursed. Snape passes through the school gates and Disapparates with Draco in tow at the book's end. Rosie Walker (walkerr@champmail.com), Other Works "Anelli, Melissa, John Noe and Sue Upton. Dumbledore, aware that Voldemort had ordered Draco to kill him, had asked Snape to kill him instead as a way of sparing the boy's soul and of preventing his own otherwise slow, painful death. In 1987, he first came to the attention of American audiences as the Vicomte de Valmont in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" on Broadway (he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the role). As the series progresses, it is revealed that his treatment of Harry stems from Snape's bitter rivalry with James when they were in school together. During his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he worked as a dresser for actors. [82][83] In the Harry Bladder sketches in All That, Snape appears as Professor Chafe (portrayed by Jeremy Rowley), whose legs were badly chafed, causing him to be unnecessarily mean. [42] Voldemort summons Snape to the Shrieking Shack. She's tolerant. Severus Snape is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He opened a successful graphic design business, Graphiti, with friends and managed it for several years before his love of theatre led him to seek an audition with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Jenny Sawyer from The Christian Science Monitor commented on the character's development in the series. Unbelievably tolerant. Snape first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, shortly after Harry arrives at Hogwarts. In 2001, Rickman introduced himself to a whole new, younger generation of fans by taking on the role of Severus Snape in the film versions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). In particular, James and Sirius bullied Snape, which according to Alan Rickman caused the already lonely boy to further "shut himself in". Alan Rickman, Harry Potter's infamous Snape, dies at 69. In the first parody, Torg defeats a plot by Professor Snapekin to achieve ultimate power.[78]. This is rare for a Death Eater, as remarked in the last book, though Voldemort himself also had a Muggle father. [13] In a 1999 interview[14] and again in 2004,[8] Rowling singled out Snape as one of her favourite characters to write. [22] Snape is a sinister and malicious teacher who makes frequent snide and disparaging remarks at Harry's expense. His take on the urbane villain set the standard for screen villains for decades to come.Although often cited as being a master of playing villains, Rickman actually played a wide variety of characters, such as the romantic cello-playing ghost Jamie in Anthony Minghella's Truly Madly Deeply (1990) and the noble Colonel Brandon of Sense and Sensibility (1995). [55], In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifteen-year-old Snape (portrayed by Alec Hopkins) makes a brief appearance in a flashback to Snape's youth. [36], Before leaving Hogwarts to accompany Dumbledore in locating another horcrux – part of Voldemort's soul – Harry discovers from Professor Trelawney that it was Snape who overheard the prophecy and told it to Voldemort, resulting in Voldemort hunting down Harry and his parents. Sirius claimed that Snape knew more hexes and curses as a first-year student at Hogwarts than most seventh-years knew. She adds, however, that she would like to think Harry made Snape's true loyalty and heroism known in the Wizarding world, and that he lobbied to ensure that a portrait be installed in the office. [34] According to Rowling, Snape is the only Death Eater capable of producing a full Patronus, which, like Lily's, is a doe. He points out that gaining Dumbledore's trust and protection has kept him out of Azkaban and free to operate on Voldemort's behalf. Towards the end of the school year, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout force Snape to flee the school. |  This mission, as had been implied in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and revealed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was to rejoin the Death Eaters and spy on Voldemort as a re-doubled agent, while pretending to spy on Dumbledore on behalf of Voldemort. While working with the Royal Shakespeare Company(RSC), h… Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Severus_Snape&oldid=1006667300, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles using Infobox character with multiple unlabeled fields, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 February 2021, at 03:09. Severus Snape appears in all eight Harry Potter films,[46] portrayed by British actor Alan Rickman. "[49], Rickman used this knowledge of Snape's ultimate loyalties throughout the films to decide how to play certain scenes, deliver specific lines, or use body language to convey specific emotions. hollywood Alan Rickman was about to quit the Harry Potter series, then JK Rowling told him a secret about Snape She retired from her lecturing position and later lost her council seat in the May 2006 local elections. . In an interview, Rowling adds that Snape is immensely brave,[20] and when asked if she considers Snape a hero, replied: "Yes, I do; though a very flawed hero. Professor McGonagall later implies that Snape learned to fly without the use of a broom, a rare skill previously displayed only by Voldemort. Images of the Severus Snape voice actors from the Harry Potter franchise. An anti-hero, perhaps. The notes greatly bolster Harry's performance in Potions, so much so that he impresses Slughorn. The issue was given special attention in the marketing campaigns on behalf of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. With Snape no longer teaching Potions, Harry enrolls in Slughorn's class and is lent an old textbook until his new one arrives. Rickman was Rowling's personal choice to portray the character. [25] Throughout the third book, Snape suspects that Lupin may be helping Harry's godfather Sirius Black enter Hogwarts castle; Sirius had been convicted (wrongly, as it is later revealed) of murdering Peter Pettigrew and innocent bystanders, and betraying the Potter family's hiding place to Voldemort. In an interview,[3] Rowling described Snape's character as an "antihero". In the course of the book, Harry and his friends find out that a few students attempted to steal the Sword of Godric Gryffindor, and that Snape subsequently sent it to be stored at Gringotts Wizarding Bank; however, that sword was only a copy. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape in a still from the final Harry Potter film. "[6] However, she does suggest in the books that he is generally an effective teacher. Born on exactly the same date as Anthony Daniels (of "Star Wars" fame), and Tyne Daly. [47] He had conversations with Rowling about his character and is one of the few Harry Potter actors that she spoke to prior to the completion of the book series about the future direction of the character. [43][61] He is intelligent and has a keen, analytical mind. "Is Snape Good or Evil?" As proof, Snape willingly shows Fudge the restored Dark Mark on his arm. Snape was very eager to leave his home to go to Hogwarts. Lupin describes Sectumsempra as Snape's "speciality" in Deathly Hallows. Before turning to acting, he studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and at the Royal College of Art, forming a successful graphic design company, Graphiti, with several friends. Today, it's to remember the actor who played him, Alan Rickman. Snape's memories then reveal that Dumbledore had impetuously tried to use the Gaunt ring, which had been cursed by Voldemort, and had been suffering from a powerful curse. Snape interrupts the planned murder, killing the headmaster himself. And you have to start saying "sorry" and being polite and curtsying and things like that... America just lets me be the klutz I really am. Harry Potter's author J.K. Rowling shared a post on Twitter that made all the Potterheads around the world emotional.Rowling remembered actor Alan Rickman, who played the role of Severus Snape in all eight movies of the Harry Potter series. Still in terror for her life, he also approached Dumbledore, admitted his actions, and begged him to protect the Potters. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Snape demonstrates his expertise with potions by brewing the complex Wolfsbane potion for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. Also, the video The Mysterious Ticking Noise with the chorus "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape" was the winner for "Best Comedy" of the year 2007 at YouTube; it currently has over 170 million views. Lukenthius. Returning to Hogwarts after retrieving Voldemort's Horcrux, Harry and Dumbledore alight atop the school's astronomy tower. Severus Snape appears in all eight Harry Potter films, portrayed by British actor Alan Rickman. Alan Rickman’s most iconic role may very well be Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series. And watching Bruce [, The job of directing it is absolutely terrifying. [52], Rickman's performance as Snape was widely acclaimed by critics, fans and Rowling herself. Two of the Harry Potter films (so far) also feature, For his death plunge down the side of the skyscraper in. |  In the final chapter, Dumbledore suggests that because Harry's father James had saved Snape's life when they were both students, even though the two detested each other, Snape felt responsible for Harry in return. Severus sat back on his feet and stared at the runic circle he had been drawing on the floor. [62] Snape is shown using this spell as a teenager against Harry's father James[26] and in the aerial battle in the last novel when he accidentally hits George Weasley (acting as a Potter decoy) with it while actually aiming for a Death Eater who was trying to attack Lupin, permanently severing George's right ear. Snape, however, believes James' actions were self-serving, to avoid being expelled. Snape informs Dumbledore of this circumstance, and when Harry and Lupin are not punished, Snape retaliates by revealing to the entire school that Lupin is a werewolf, forcing the latter to resign his post. Severus Snape is portrayed by the late British actor Alan Rickman in all of the film adaptations, making him one of the 14 characters to appear in all eight film adaptations. Denied the role in the film version of the show, Rickman instead made his first film appearance opposite Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988) as the villainous Hans Gruber. [37] Rowling maintains this impression through the early chapters of the seventh novel. Snape's memories also provide Harry with the information he needs to ensure Voldemort's final defeat, in the form of conversations Snape had with Dumbledore. [44] In a separate interview, Rowling discussed Snape's back story, saying she had planned it ever since she wrote the first book because the whole series is built around it and she considers him one of the most important characters of the seventh book.