Dame Emma Thompson has shared a profoundly moving account of her final moments with her close friend and celebrated co-star, Alan Rickman, revealing she kissed him goodbye before his death in 2016.
A Touching Final Farewell
In an emotional tribute penned shortly after learning of his passing, the actress described the painful experience of saying goodbye. Thompson, who played Rickman's wife in the beloved 2003 festive film Love Actually, wrote that what she remembered most was his remarkable humour, intelligence, wisdom, and kindness.
She highlighted his unique presence, noting his ability to "fell you with a look or lift you with a word." Thompson also reflected on his artistic integrity, calling it an "intransigence which made him the great artist he was" and valued the honest perspective he always offered her.
A Privileged Creative Partnership
The pair shared the screen in multiple acclaimed projects beyond Love Actually, including Sense and Sensibility, The Song of Lunch, and the Harry Potter film series. Thompson hailed Rickman as an extraordinary actor and director, stating she was "hugely privileged" to have collaborated with him so often.
"I couldn't wait to see what he was going to do with his face next," she fondly recalled. She emphasised the depth of their trust, calling him "the ultimate ally. In life, art and politics." Her tribute concluded with the poignant sentiment: "He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again."
A Lasting Tribute in Victory
Just one month after Rickman's death, Thompson paid a public tribute to her friend. While accepting the Evening Standard British Film Award for Comedy for her role in The Legend of Barney Thomson, she dedicated the win to him.
"I'd like to commit this moment in time to dearest Alan Rickman who many of us are dearly missing tonight," she told the audience. "It's so depressing but there it is, it does happen." She ended with a characteristically witty and personal memory, sharing: "He did say I'd always end up looking like my mother, and he was right."
This intimate revelation, a decade on from the loss, offers a touching glimpse into the deep bond between two of Britain's most revered acting talents.
