Excerpts from Alan Rickmans diaries published by The Guardian offer a glimpse into the late actors decade long journey through the  Harry Potter franchise with insight into why he decided to continue playing the role of Severus Snape across all eight films.





Prior to production beginning on the series fifth entry  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Rickman was forced to confront health issues. The actor was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005 and began to receive treatment. Doctors later decided to remove his entire prostate with surgery occurring at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tenn. in January of the following year. Weeks after he was released from the hospital Rickman wrote an entry in his journal revealing his decision to stay on as the notorious gloomy potions professor.


Finally yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says See it through. Its your story he wrote.


In 2007 the actor recorded his thoughts on his characters demise written in J.K. Rowlings final entry in the book series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows adding that he had always known about the harrowing love story between his character and Harry Potters mother Lily. I have finished reading the last  Harry Potter book he wrote at the time.  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.