Emma Thompson Writes Touching Tribute to Frequent Co-Star Alan Rickman

Emma Thompson just wrote a very touching tribute to her friend and frequent collaborator Alan Rickman, who passed away on Thursday (January 14) at the age of 69 from cancer.

“Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye. What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. His capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was – his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view,” the 56-year-old actress said in a statement to Just Jared.

“I learned a lot from him. He was the finest of actors and directors. I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do with his face next. I consider myself hugely privileged to have worked with him so many times and to have been directed by him. He was the ultimate ally. In life, art and politics. I trusted him absolutely. He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again,” Emma concluded.

Emma and Alan worked together on several films including Sense and Sensibility, The Song of Lunch, The Winter Guest, Judas Kiss, the Harry Potter franchise, and Love Actually.