Alan Rickman had harsh words for Emma Watson’s performance in the early “Harry Potter” films, according to excerpts from the actor’s journal.
Rickman made the remark around the same time he expressed his desire to leave the franchise owing to his frustrations with the amount of time and effort required to produce the series.
Rickman is well-known for portraying Professor Severus Snape in all eight films based on J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels. And although he co-starred with Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes, he was upfront about the quality of the younger ensemble early in the series.
Recently, The Guardian revealed excerpts from the actor’s diaries that provide fascinating insight into his time on the “Harry Potter” set.
Rickman stated, in reference to his younger co-stars, “These children require direction. They don’t know their lines, and Emma Watson’s diction occasionally borders on Albania.”
When recalling an event in which he was briefly knocked unconscious, the actor jokingly referred to “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” as a “wonderful” production.
Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), a killer, escaped from the aforementioned prison in the third film, causing discoveries to occur. In the meantime, Watson’s character, Hermione, experimented with time travel so that she could take more classes at school, which subsequently became a pivotal plot component in the film’s dramatic conclusion.
Rickman spent a great deal of time with Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint in the early films, as the youthful protagonists were always at odds with the condescending potions master.
Despite Rickman’s criticism, Watson has now had a highly successful career, appearing in films such as ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ and Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women.’
In the excerpts, the “Die Hard” star also criticized the franchise’s leading man, stating that he did not believe Daniel Radcliffe would be a successful actor.
Rickman penned, “Corridor with Daniel Radcliffe. He is really focused right now. Serious and dedicated, yet with a sense of humor. I still do not believe he is a true actor, but he will definitely direct/produce.”
Since leaving the Wizarding World, Daniel Radcliffe’s career has flourished, as he has ventured into lesser films such as “Horns,” “Swiss Army Man,” “Imperium,” and “The Lost City.” Next, he will portray Weird Al Yankovic in the biographical comedy “Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story.”