Alan Rickman’s most poignant, canny and comical quotes

Alan Rickman has died aged 69 (Matej Divizna/Getty Images)

The world is mourning the loss of a British film and theatre great on Thursday after Alan Rickman passed away from cancer.

The actor enjoyed a celebrated career on stage and screen with memorable turns as the misunderstood potions master Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise and as Bruce Willis’ nemesis in Die Hard, the role that propelled him to fame.

His distinctive voice, charisma and striking presence made Rickman an unforgettable performer and the ultimate film villain. He amassed legions of fans from blockbuster roles, but he also made a number of statements in interviews that only served to endear him to his fans, a selection of which are listed below.

On never winning an Academy Award: “Parts win prizes, not actors.”

On persevering through periods of unemployment: “I don’t remember it now, but I’m sure the difficult moments made me stronger, or at least that’s what I’ve trained myself to think.“

On perfection: “When I’m making a movie and I come out of the makeup trailer, I always mess up my hair. If someone has made my hair perfect… well, life isn’t perfect, is it?”

On culture: “A film, a piece of theatre, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world."

On social media: “I’m one of those people who don’t go near social media, so I don’t use all those words beginning with T and Facebook.”

On being told he played a ‘rotter’ in Harry Potter: “You clearly aren’t up to speed with Harry Potter, because I’m a hero. That’s all that matters.”