Born: 21 February 1946
Where: London, England
Awards: 1 BAFTA, 1 Emmy, 1 Golden Globe
Height: 6'1"

People in the UK often complain that the finest British thespians seldom get opportunities to succeed in Hollywood pictures. Often the reason is simple - most great British actors are just SO damned British they're considered only for the occasional role. A butler, perhaps, or a dastardly villain, more often Queen Elizabeth I. And, in the case of Alan Rickman, there is a further problem. To most top-line stars, the man is a positive menace. Absolutely explosive in his work, he's not only ideally suited to cinema but he's a scene-stealer of the highest and most dangerous order. Take his Sheriff Of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. Kevin Costner famously cut many of his scenes, and STILL the movie's remembered for Rickman's hilarious outbursts.

His path to prominence has been long and hard. He was born Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman, on a council estate in Acton, West London, on the 21st of February, 1946, to a Welsh mother and Irish father. He had one older brother, then a younger brother and sister. Sadly, his father, a factory worker, died when he was just 8, leaving him to be raised by his mum who, he's said, instilled in him both a sense of decency and a respect for women. As a child, he was bright, and artistic, capable of excellent calligraphy and watercolour painting. Eventually, he won a scholarship to Latymer School (later alumni including Hugh Grant and Mel Smith), and quickly became involved in drama. Latymer was fairly radical in this department. Both pupils and teachers acted alongside each other, an approach that demanded the boys mature rapidly.

Rickman loved acting, but his other artistic talents led him towards graphic design - certainly a safer occupation. "Drama school," he says "wasn't considered the sensible thing to do at 18". So he enrolled at the Chelsea College Of Art And Design, later spending a year at the Royal College Of Art. It was at Chelsea that he met Rima Horton, still his partner today. Both keen to continue acting in some shape or form, they founded an amateur troupe, the Brook Green Players. Rima, sharing Alan's liberal beliefs, would eventually become a politician, serving for many years on the council of Kensington and Chelsea.