Ralph Fiennes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Fiennes
|
|
|---|---|
Fiennes in 2024
|
|
| Born |
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton Wykeham Fiennes
22 December 1962 |
| Citizenship |
|
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
|
Notable work
|
Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Alex Kingston
(m. 1993; div. 1997) |
| Partner(s) | Francesca Annis (1995–2006) |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Family | Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes |
| Awards | Full list |
Ralph Fiennes (born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He is known for his many roles on stage and in movies. He has won several awards, including a BAFTA Award and a Tony Award. He has also been nominated for three Academy Awards.
Fiennes was born in Ipswich, England. He studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduated in 1985. He became very good at performing plays by William Shakespeare. He acted at the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 1995, he performed on Broadway in Hamlet, winning a Tony Award.
He made his first movie appearance in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (1992). Fiennes has been in many famous films. These include Schindler's List (1993), The English Patient (1996), and Conclave (2024). He also played Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies. From 2012 to 2021, he played M in the James Bond films.
Fiennes has also directed movies like Coriolanus (2011). He has lent his voice to animated films such as The Prince of Egypt (1998). Since 1999, he has been an ambassador for UNICEF UK, helping children around the world.
Early Life and Family
Ralph Fiennes was born in Ipswich, England, on 22 December 1962. His father, Mark Fiennes, was a farmer and photographer. His mother, Jennifer Lash, was a writer. Ralph is the oldest of six children.
His siblings are also involved in the arts. His brother Joseph Fiennes is an actor. His sister Martha Fiennes is a director, and his sister Sophie Fiennes is a filmmaker. His brother Magnus Fiennes is a composer. His other brother, Jacob Fiennes, is a conservationist. His nephew, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, played a younger version of Lord Voldemort in a Harry Potter film.
Fiennes went to Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury. He first studied painting at Chelsea College of Arts. Later, he realized his real passion was acting.
Acting Career
Early Theater and Film Roles
Fiennes trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1983 to 1985. He started his acting career in theater. He performed at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and the Royal National Theatre. He became well-known at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).
His first screen role was in a British TV film in 1990. He then made his movie debut in 1992. He played Heathcliff in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
Breakthrough and Acclaim
In 1993, Fiennes played a difficult historical character in Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List. Critics praised his performance. He was nominated for an Academy Award and won a BAFTA Award for this role. His portrayal was even listed among the top film villains.
In 1994, he appeared in Quiz Show, a film about a 1950s TV scandal. In 1996, he was nominated for another Academy Award for his role in The English Patient. He also voiced Ramesses II in the animated movie The Prince of Egypt (1998).
Fiennes has acted in many different types of movies. These include thrillers, romantic comedies, and historical dramas. In 1999, he starred in Onegin, which his sister Martha directed. In 2002, he played a complex character in Red Dragon. He also voiced Jesus in the animated film The Miracle Maker (2000).
Harry Potter and Global Recognition
In 2005, Fiennes starred in The Constant Gardener. This film was set in Kenya and received strong reviews. Fiennes's performance was highly praised. The movie's cast and crew even started a charity to help children in the villages where they filmed. Fiennes supports this charity.
That same year, he voiced Lord Victor Quartermaine in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. He played a funny, upper-class character.
Fiennes became famous worldwide for playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise. He first appeared as Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). He returned for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and both parts of Deathly Hallows (2010, 2011). Fiennes described playing Voldemort as an "instinctive, physical thing." He focused on showing Voldemort's desire for power and control.
In 2006, Fiennes returned to the stage in Faith Healer. He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance. In 2008, he played the main role in Oedipus the King at the Royal National Theatre.
In 2008, he was in The Duchess and The Reader. He also appeared in the crime thriller In Bruges. In 2009, he was in the Iraq War film The Hurt Locker. In 2010, he played Hades in Clash of the Titans.
Established Career and Directing
In 2012, Fiennes joined the James Bond film series. He played M in Skyfall, taking over from Dame Judi Dench. He continued this role in later Bond films. That same year, he played Abel Magwitch in Great Expectations. Critics praised his "feral and frightening" performance. He also returned as Hades in Wrath of the Titans.
In 2013, Fiennes directed and starred in The Invisible Woman. He played Charles Dickens in this biographical drama. The film was well-received.
In 2014, Fiennes showed his comedic talent in The Grand Budapest Hotel. He played Monsieur Gustave, a charming and funny concierge. His performance earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award. Empire magazine ranked his character as one of the greatest movie characters ever.
In 2015, Fiennes starred in the thriller A Bigger Splash. In 2016, he appeared in the comedy Hail, Caesar!. He also voiced Raiden the Moon King in the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings. From 2017, he voiced Alfred Pennyworth in The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
In 2018, he directed and starred in The White Crow. This film was about the ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Fiennes speaks some Russian, which helped him play his role. He received an award for his directing at the Tokyo International Film Festival. In 2019, he played an MI6 agent in the documentary Coup 53.
Recent Work
.jpg)
In 2020, Fiennes voiced a tiger in Dolittle. He also appeared in the play Beat the Devil and its film version. In 2021, he starred in The Dig, playing an archaeologist. Critics praised his performance. Later in 2021, he was in the spy film The King's Man and the James Bond film No Time To Die.
In 2021, Fiennes returned to the stage in Straight Line Crazy. He played a famous urban planner, Robert Moses. His performance received excellent reviews. In 2022, Fiennes starred as Chef Julian Slowik in the comedy horror film The Menu. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role. Also in 2022, he worked with his sister Sophie Fiennes on a film version of T. S. Eliot's poem, Four Quartets.
In 2023, Fiennes reunited with director Wes Anderson for short films based on Roald Dahl's stories. One of these, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More, won an Academy Award. Fiennes also starred as Macbeth in a touring play in late 2023. In 2024, he starred in Conclave, earning an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. He also appeared in 28 Years Later, the third film in a post-apocalyptic series. In 2026, Fiennes is set to star in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as President Coriolanus Snow.
Personal Life
Ralph Fiennes met actress Alex Kingston while they were both students at RADA. They married in 1993 and later divorced in 1997. He was in a relationship with Francesca Annis for 11 years, which ended in 2006.
In 2017, Fiennes was granted Serbian citizenship.
Advocacy and Views
Fiennes has worked with UNICEF UK since 1999. He has visited countries like India, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, and Romania to support their work. He is also a member of Artists Against Racism, a Canadian charity.
Fiennes has spoken about his views on the European Union. He believed that the UK should remain part of the EU. He felt that the EU helps connect different cultures and nations.
In 2021, Fiennes expressed support for J. K. Rowling when she faced criticism for her views on transgender people. He stated that he found the strong reactions and language used against differing opinions to be concerning.
Awards and Recognition
See also
In Spanish: Ralph Fiennes para niños
- List of British actors
- List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain
