A Lesson on How to be a Villain
To be a great villain requires more than merely being rotten to the core. The best bad guys are multi-dimensional and unpredictable. With each patronizing grin, disdainful remark and narcissistic fit, Alan Rickman elevates the role of a villain from the plain ol’ bastard to a bastard coated bastard with bastard filling. Actors take note. We’ve picked our four favorite Rickman villains to illustrate the ultimate lessons in how to be a villain, the Alan Rickman way.
The Faces
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Sheriff of Nottingham Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves |
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Severus Snape Harry Potter Series |
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Hans Gruber Die Hard |
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Elliot Marston Quigley Down Under |

Step 1: Establish the Setting
Even though his home base is England, Alan Rickman’s villainy knows no bounds.
Exhibit A: Map of Misery
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Nottingham East Midlands, England |
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Hogwarts Somewhere in Scotland |
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Nakatomi Plaza Los Angeles, California |
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Western Outback Australia |
Exhibit B: Timeline of Terror
Step 2: Perfect The Look
Fashion Accessories
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Medieval David Lee Roth ensemble |
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Wizard robes complete with cape |
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Wool trench coat over suit |
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Cowboy duster and hat |
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![]() The messy mullet |
![]() The emo |
![]() The pencil-thin |
![]() The handlebar |
Exhibit C: Hairstyles & facial hair
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Bow & Arrow | ![]() |
Wand |
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Machine Gun | ![]() |
1874 Sharps Buffalo Rifle |
Exhibit D: Adversary’s Weapon
Step 3: Acquire an Adversary
It is crucial that said adversary is as good as Rickman is vile and merciless.
The Adversary | His Accomplice(s) | |
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Robin of Locksley | A band of merry outlaws from Sherwood Forest |
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Harry Potter | Ron & Hermione |
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John McClane | Sergeant Al Powell, (aka Carl Winslow) |
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Matthew Quigley | A band of aborigines |
Step 4: Hone An Evil Personality
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Exhibit E: Practice saying the adversary’s last name with disdain and over-enunciation
Fine-Tune a Sneer
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Raging eye bulge |
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Silent rage lip curl |
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Grinning ear-to-ear |
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Teeth flashing squint |
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![]() Spoon |
![]() Wand |
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![]() Revolver |
Exhibit F: Choose a weapon
Step 5: Prepare for Battle
A legion of loyal henchmen is essential.
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English soldiers & Celtic warriors |
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Death Eaters |
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German terrorists |
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Dopey cowboys |
Step 6: The Money Quote
A sarcastic and pompous delivery is key. This is the beginning of the end.
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“It’s dull you twit, it’ll hurt more.” |
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“You might be laboring under the delusion that the entire wizarding world is impressed with you.” |
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“SHOOT the GLASS!” |
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“Oh, by the way, you’re fired.” |
Step 7: The Untimely Demise
At this point, Rickman has underestimated his foe and written his own death certificate. Here’s the blow-by-blow.
A Henchman Doesn’t Get the Job Done | So He Kills/Attempts to Kill | And Meets His Demise By | |
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His cousin, Guy of Gisbourne | Half of Sherwood Forest | Getting stabbed with his own dagger |
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Draco Malfoy | Dumbledore | Spoiler Alert! Bitten in the neck by a snake |
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Karl Vreski | The adversary’s ex-wife | Being thrown off a building |
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Every cowboy in Australia | Quigley and Crazy Cora | Getting shot with his own gun |

Bonus: If Rickman played Palpatine
The SettingA long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. |
Preparing for BattleLightsaber. A legion of loyal Storm Troopers. |
Money Quote“Mr. Skywalker… The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.” |
Perfect the LookDirty old man. Wizard robes and cape. |
Acquire an AdversaryJedi. The forces of good. |
The Untimely DemiseAttempted to kill Luke Skywalker. Got thrown off a building by his loyal henchman, Darth Vader. |