Interview with an Alan Rickman impersonator
The following is a translation of an interview with Alan Rickman, which was printed in today’s edition of the newspaper Express, which is sold in the Cologne area. It’s a rag, and while I think that the interview is really funny, it seems quite out of character for AR if you take into account other interviews he gave.





Perfume? Not for me!

Phew, the man can be really villainous – of course, on the screen only. Whoever meets Alan Rickman (60), gets to know an obliging, humorous man. Someone who regards fame as an annoying side effect. (Almost) every filmgoer knows him – either as the terrorist in the first Die Hard film or as Severus Snape in Harry Potter. Now Rickman refines the film adaptation of Perfume.

Which perfume do you prefer to use?

None. Perfumes are not my thing.

But surely you give perfume away as a present?

In the past. To my girlfriend. But I’ve realised that as a man you shouldn’t buy perfumes for a woman. The fragrance changes. What smelled great in the shop, didn’t smell as good on her. Now I only buy what I’m told to buy.

Why don’t you like perfumes?

I do on women. I just don’t like it on my skin. (theatrically inhales his own smell)

Which is the most infatuating fragrance you have ever smelled?

I won’t give you the answer you want to hear. (laughs) The most beautiful smell has to be that of a baby that has been just washed. This pure fragrance of the skin.

The main topic of Perfume is the perfect sense of smell. Which talent would you like to have?

Playing the piano. My mother knew how to play. I thought it was wonderful. She had to give it up sometime, though. She was a single mother and had to make sure that we all got something to eat.

Why don’t you learn to play the piano yourself?

I’m sure there will be a time when we all receive a chip implant. By hitting the button we all can play the piano then.

…and until then?

I don’t have the time. The only thing that remains for me to do is enjoying it. In the flat above ours there lives a concert pianist. When she’s practising, we sit on the balcony with a glass of red wine and listen. It’s fantastic.

Fantastic – a good cue. In Perfume there is a scene with an orgy…

It was magnificent. I had never thought that I would ever in my life walk among a crowd of 850 naked bodies, which are making love.

Wasn’t there a great danger that the scene would become pornographic?

I’m very proud that the scene didn’t turn out to be sexist at all, although everyone lies on top of each other, grinding.

Do you think Perfume will be a success?

I’m absolutely sure.

You play Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. Has this successful role changed your life?

Each role slightly changes an actor. The big change in my life was that I made a film at all. I played the villain in the first Die Hard film and suddenly I had a film career. I entered the premiere as a normal member of the audience and left as a star, for whom the way through the masses had to be cleared.

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The article also mentions that another film premiere will be held in Cologne tomorrow at 7 p.m. No details on the stars, though.