Daniel Radcliffe is urging Academy Award bosses to recognise Alan Rickman with an Oscar nomination, insisting the veteran was superb as Professor Snape in the final Harry Potter film.

Alan Rickman is not among the early favourites to land a Best Supporting Actor nod but his young co-star is rooting for him to be on the shortlist in January (12).

He tells Entertainment Weekly, "I don't think there is going to be another performance from an actor in a supporting role that is so powerful, where the actor had the challenge of realising a scene that's been realised millions of times the world over in the imaginations of readers.

"That scene - those revelations about Snape's past - represented maybe the most anticipated part of (one of) the most anticipated movies of the past 10 years, and I think Alan does amazing, amazing work."