Read The Goodbye Letter From Alan Rickman To Harry Potter Fans

Tributes continue to be shared online to Alan Rickman following the shocking news that he has passed away. And now a letter he wrote to Harry Potter fans has resurfaced online also. Originally published in Empire magazine in 2011 Alan's letter reflected on his last time playing Snape in the Harry Potter movies and thanked J.K. Rowling. He wrote:

"I have just returned from the dubbing studio where I spoke into a microphone as Severus Snape for the last time. On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma, and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned from New York, and while I was there, I saw Daniel singing and dancing (brilliantly) on Broadway. A lifetime seems to have passed in minutes.

"These children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the surest of hands.

"It is an ancient need to be told stories. But the story needs a great storyteller. Thanks for all of it, Jo."

Alan Rickman's heartfelt goodbye letter to Snape and Harry Potter fans (2011) pic.twitter.com/6GYEKbqrWW

— The Rowling Library (@rowlinglibrary) January 14, 2016