Emma Thompson Responds To Death Of ‘Harry Potter’ Co-Star Alan Rickman, Shares Her Memories Of The Late Actor

Emma Thompson is speaking out about the death of her dear friend Alan Rickman, who lost his battle to cancer Thursday at the age of 69. According to the actress, it was quite “painful” for her to address the death of the Emmy-winning performer, known for his role as Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” movies.

“Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye,” the 56-year-old actress wrote in a statement. “What I remember most in this moment of painful leave — taking his humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. 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.”

Thompson co-starred in several movies with her longtime friend, from the 1995 film “Sense and Sensibility” to the iconic 2003 romantic comedy “Love Actually” and in three films in the “Harry Potter” franchise. And, according to the Oscar winner, it was working alongside Rickman that allowed her to become a better actress.

“I learned a lot from him,” she said. “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.”

The actress concluded her touching tribute to Rickman by stating he was the “ultimate ally.”

“I trusted him absolutely. He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again.”

Thompson wasn’t the only co-star of Rickman’s to mourn his loss. Several cast members from the “Harry Potter” films, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, spoke of the love and admiration they had for the great actor, as did "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling.

"There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman's death," the mastermind behind the magical world of Hogwarts wrote in a tweet Thursday. "He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man."