The role of German terrorist Hans Gruber was Rickman’s first ever on-screen role. He starred opposite Bruce Willis, who played the protagonist of Die Hard, John McClane. Rickman had spent years as a theatre actor but went to Los Angeles to try out for some on-screen roles. After two days in LA the 41-year-old was offered the part of Gruber – an offer he was not happy with.

Speaking about Die Hard in 2015, Rickman said: “I didn’t know anything about LA. I didn’t know anything about the film business … I’d never made a film before, but I was extremely cheap.”

After reading the Die Hard script he said: “What the hell is this? I’m not doing an action movie!”

Although he initially did not want to work on the film, Rickman…