From love interest to master of the dark parts

Alan Rickman plays another miserable character in ''Nobel Son.'' (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - When it came to casting the lead character Eli Michaelson for the dark-comic crime thriller "Nobel Son," the film's creators didn't have a Plan B. Alan Rickman was their first and only choice to play the Nobel Prize winner (and pompous jerk) whose son is kidnapped and held for ransom

"We had a dream that Alan was going to play Eli," said writer-producer Jody Savin, whose husband, Randall Miller, was director-writer-producer on the film. "We were very lucky."

Indeed they were. Since Rickman's movie-acting debut in 1988's "Die Hard," the actor has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as "Sense and Sensibility," "Galaxy Quest," the Harry Potter series, "Love Actually," and "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer." After wrapping "Nobel Son," which opens locally on Friday, Rickman starred in Miller and Savin's follow-up effort, "Bottle Shock," an indie comedy that was actually released first, this past August.

On a chilly November morning, the London native sat down to discuss playing Eli Michaelson, life after Harry Potter, and why it's important to take a close look at his filmography before making assumptions about his career.

Q. What was your initial reaction to the script of "Nobel Son"?

A. I thought, "Who the hell wrote this?" And then I spoke to Randall and Jody on the phone, and again thought, "Who are these people?" But that's what I love about them, that there is no easy way to label their work.

Q. Eli seems easy to label: How about "miserable"?

A. He knows what he wants. He's happy. [Laughs]

Q. Was it enjoyable to embody such a person?

A. It's great fun, actually. Because on one hand he's a grown-up, and on the other, he's about 11 years old.

Q. You've said in the past that your character in "Snow Cake" [Rickman plays an ex-con who forges a friendship with an autistic adult] was more like you than anyone else you have played. How much of you is in Eli?

A. Well, you have to drag it from somewhere. I guess there is a selfish creep inside every man.

Q. Eli wins the Nobel Prize for chemistry. For research, did you dust off your old school textbooks?

A. That would have been a waste of time, because I was so useless in anything that had to do with science in school.

Q. Speaking of awards, your "Die Hard" character, Hans Gruber, was voted by the American Film Institute as the 46th best movie villain of all time. Does that make you proud?

A. Again, I don't know about labels, but if by saying that, they mean I gave a good performance in a good film, then great, thank you.

Q. Over the years, many journalists have categorized you as an actor who often plays heavies. Does that get tiresome?

A. Look up and down my [curriculum vitae], and there will probably be a total of six of that type of role.

Q. Is that why in the past, you haven't been that keen on speaking about "Die Hard"?

A. I'm very proud of that film, but, again, just look up and down my CV.

Q. If one does, they'll find a mix of big-budget studio pics ["Sweeney Todd," the Harry Potter films] and indies ["Snow Cake," "Bottle Shock"]. Do you have a preference?

A. I suppose on the whole, I'm more attracted to independent projects. But that's not to say that I wouldn't do something more mainstream if it had energy and vision.

Q. Which of your films are you most recognized for?

A. "Sense and Sensibility," "Truly Madly Deeply." Teenagers really love "Dogma."

Q. Do children recognize you as Harry Potter's Severus Snape? A. Not really, because I'm generally not walking around wearing a black wig.

Q. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" comes out in July, and later in the year, you'll begin filming the series' final installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." How do you feel knowing that the end is in sight?

A. It means that I'll be able to do more theater as an actor. I couldn't really because I never know what my commitment could be.

Q. Would you ever do another film, knowing it could be six sequels?

A. Only if I was provided with a wheelchair and an oxygen tank.