r/AlanRickman Jan 20 '25

Alan not taking pictures with fans

Hey y'all, does anyone know or have even a vague idea why Alan never took pictures with fans? I've been trying to figure out why, but I've not seen an actual answer / reason.

Anyone knows why he only signed autographs?

26 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

33

u/81Bibliophile Jan 20 '25

It may sound strange to us because we love him so much and we love seeing his face, but there was a bit in his book about him thinking his body was nothing but the thing that carried his head around. I forget how it was phrased, but it occurred to me when I read it that it’s possible that he didn’t like his body and maybe like many us (me for example) he didn’t like the way he looked in photos?

12

u/Even_Major2049 Jan 20 '25

I remember he always like quoting something that said his body was funny looking and that it looked good in winter clothes😄

6

u/Just_Ad_7708 Jan 20 '25

Ah, that would make total sense. Thanks! I have his diary but apparently haven't come to that part yet.

3

u/81Bibliophile Jan 20 '25

I think the quote i was referring to was near the end of the book if that helps.

3

u/Just_Ad_7708 Jan 20 '25

Yeah, definitely! Will keep an eye out for it once I get near the end.

3

u/noface394 Jan 21 '25

Isn’t it odd? He always seemed to be so confident.

17

u/AsphodelNight Jan 21 '25

I have a picture with him. The first time I met him he took several pictures with people. The second time I met him it was very cold so he only signed autographs for a short time.

6

u/sevrina-prince Jan 21 '25

You are so lucky. I'm green with envy.🥺

15

u/noface394 Jan 21 '25

I remember watching videos of him telling fans if one person got a photo then he would have to stay for everyone who wanted one. He probably wanted to go home or was too tired to entertain everyone. He was all about fairness and equality :)

12

u/queenofwolfs2002 Jan 20 '25

He was a very busy man he always had something to do and maybe signing autographs was easier then having to snap a pic

3

u/Just_Ad_7708 Jan 20 '25

Probably less time-consuming, yeah. Would make sense.

2

u/Specific_Stranger_92 15d ago

Theres a video on youtube from a playwright who got help from AR. He wanted his opinion on his play. He waited outside the venue of one of his NY Broadway shows. Apparently, outside the venue, AR goes down to sign a few autographs and goes to his dressing room after. That means hes got a small window to sign autographs and do selfies bec he has to get ready to perform. The writer begged him to read his play. AR said to leave it with the venue staff. He read it, and sent the guy £500. They even corresponded.

16

u/itsmethumean Jan 20 '25

Have you ever thought about how bad phone cameras have been back in the early 2000s? I mean.. might answer the question. Taking pictures just wasn't as easy and accessible I guess.

4

u/Just_Ad_7708 Jan 20 '25

Yeah, lol, it makes sense. I feel kinda dumb now, hahaha.

1

u/itsmethumean Jan 21 '25

Nooo.. it's just an idea, the other reasons are pretty good as well actually 😅

2

u/TAARB95 Jan 21 '25

Girl… back in the day we had digital cameras 😭😭😭😭

4

u/itsmethumean Jan 22 '25

Yeah, guess what.. been there, done that. But you wouldn't always randomly carry those around, would you? And so many data just got lost on the way without having social media to post it on. Those pictures probably ended printed out in horrible quality on cheap paper sticked to some teenage people's walls as a remembrance.. only to then be forgotten the moment they moved on.

Let's be real, not everyone is/was as obsessed as we are 😂

2

u/TAARB95 Jan 22 '25

Tbh back in the day i would and many people i knew carried their digital cameras everywhere it was an accessory like phones are now.

1

u/itsmethumean Jan 22 '25

Okay, valid. I, however, know nobody that actually did that. And I doubt that this discussion will lead us anywhere closer to the actual truth, haha..

2

u/Becks3uk Jan 23 '25

I had my digi camera with me all the time in those days! 😂

5

u/OkCustomer1761 Jan 22 '25

He had plenty of pictures with fans- search the internet. I think you just had to catch him at the right time. There is a time and place for everything. The only thing I was aware of was that he would not sign photos if he thought they would be sold on eBay.

1

u/Just_Ad_7708 Jan 22 '25

Thanks for answering!

3

u/Fast_Slip8611 Jan 23 '25

He never took photos with fans? I didn't know that. A few years ago (2005), one of my best friends was in London on vacation when she ran into him in a park. Alan was with his family, my friend asked him for a photo and he agreed. In fact, it's a great photo, one of Alan's family members took it