Alan Rickman‘s career is marked by some of the most unique and unforgettable villain characters. One of the most remarkable one is, of course, the spectacularly over-the-top Sheriff of Nottingham in ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’.
The role earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and remains one of his most entertaining performances. But to achieve that, Rickman had to get creative. He secretly recruited his friends help him improve the script.
Alan Rickman Quietly Reworked The Sheriff Of Nottingham
Rickman never shies away from bringing his own unique elements to his characters, and it wasn’t any different for the Sheriff of Nottingham. During a BAFTA interview, he recalled turning to his friend, playwright and screenwriter, Peter Barnes, with a blunt request, “I said, ‘Will you have a look at this script because it’s terrible, and I need some good lines?’”
Related: Alan Rickman Had To Keep Biggest ‘Harry Potter’ Secret Hidden For Nearly A Decade
Barnes agreed, and the two friends met in a branch of Pizza Express, where they ended up scribbling ideas directly onto the screenplay over pizzas, bacons and eggs.
One of Barnes’ best additions came during a scene in which the Sheriff walks through a corridor. Instead of simply passing by, Barnes suggested the villain should stop to command one woman, “You. My room, 10.30,” before immediately turning to another and saying, “You, 10.45.”
Rickman then took the joke one step further by calling his longtime friend Ruby Wax. She added the perfect punchline: “And bring a friend.”
Rickman Never Stopped Rewriting His Greatest Characters
Alan Rickman brought his revisions of the script to set with no one knowing except the director. Fortunately, his creative instincts worked perfectly. “I knew it had worked because, as I cleared the camera, I saw about 80 members of the crew just go…” he said, mimicking the crew bursting into laughter.
In Case You Missed It: An Oscar-Nominated Actor Turned Down Professor Snape In ‘Harry Potter’ And Changed The Franchise Forever
This creative instinct drove Alan Rickman’s career. Even in his debut film ‘Die Hard’, Rickman was the one who suggested Hans Gruber should wear an elegant suit. It is these small changes that set him apart from conventional villains.
In many ways, Rickman’s edits kind of saved the character. While ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ was a commercial success, critics have often pointed out its uneven tone and writing. But Rickman’s Sheriff of Nottingham has always stood out because he wasn’t afraid to go off the books. Sometimes the best scripts are made behind everyone’s back.
You Might Also Like To Read: Alan Rickman’s Iconic ‘Die Hard’ Death Reaction Was Completely Real
