Alan Rickman

Years back, when I was a student at the Royal College of Art, one of my classmates decided to leave the course a year before graduating because he had some some daft idea of becoming an actor. Naturally, I told him he should stay on for the final year, get his degree, then have a crack at this acting lark and if it didn't work out he'd still be qualified as a designer. But no, he wouldn't have it so he left. Then I heard he'd somehow fiddled his way into RADA. A couple of years later I saw him on telly playing Obadiah Slope in The Barchester Chronicles. Didn't think much of it but best of luck sunshine, looks like you've achieved your ambition and become an small-time actor. Hope it works out. Follow your dream. Maybe one day you'll become a star. Or maybe not. Who knows.