In all this time, we have barely mentioned Harry Potter. Rickman always avoids it - "I don't want to play with something that has to do with children's innocence" is a typical riposte - but it is the boy wizard who has given him enough leverage to get films such as Snow Cake made. And, of course, he likes playing the professor of potions, whom he sees as "quite an insecure person, always longing to be something else that people will really respect".

"At this point, it's good to have done something for children," he says. "I like the fact it's persuaded children to read. If I'm going to be working when I'm 80, I need them as my audience."