Alan Rickman's role as Severus Snape was monumental to the Harry Potter film franchise. Rickman, who passed away in 2016, brought life to the villainous professor whose role as Dumbledore's secret agent was key to the plot of the films and books. Neil Pearson Rare Books has gotten ahold of 38 boxes filled with photos, fan mail, personal notes, letters, original scripts, and endless other priceless artifacts from Harry Potter, among other movies that Rickman was a part of. Buried in Rickman's treasures are several letters that were written to him, or by him, during the time he was filming the magical movies. While some of the letters praise Rickman for his performance, two letters in particular show the actor's frustration with how his character was handled.
In a note titled “Inside Snape’s Head,” written while Rickman was filming The Half-Blood Prince, he expresses his discontent with the director. “It is as if David Y. has decided that this is not important in the scheme of things i.e. teen audience appeal,” Rickman wrote. Producer David Heyman wrote Rickman a letter after the conclusion of the filming of Chamber of Secrets that reveals Rickman was frustrated while completing that film as well. "Thank you for making HP2 a success,” wrote Heyman. “I know, at times, you are frustrated but please know that you are an integral part of the films. And you are brilliant.”
The collection, which also includes handwritten letters from J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe, is valued at $1,258,222 by The Independent.
