Rickman Gives Voice to 'Sweeney Todd' Nemesis

from National Public Radio

In Tim Burton's new film, Sweeney Todd, veteran stage and screen actor Alan Rickman plays the nasty Judge Turpin, nemesis of Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), the "Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Rickman has played a number of villains during his film tenure. From Hans Gruber in Die Hard to Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, Rickman has used his deep voice to instill fear — a tradition that continues in Sweeney Todd.

The British actor talks to Michele Norris about his distinctive ability to make the word "gander" sound ghoulish. He also shares his recollections of the first musical he ever performed in (Little Mary Sunshine) and how one vocal coach in drama school said his voice sounded as if it was coming out of "the back end of a drain pipe."

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, December 20, 2007