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Ralph Fiennes | Biography, Movies, & Credits | Britannica
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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-07T00:00:00CST" >Nov 7, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ralph-Fiennes/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>In full: </dt> <dd>Ralph Nathaniel Fiennes</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>December 22, 1962, <a href="/place/Ipswich-England">Ipswich</a>, <a href="/place/Suffolk-county-England">Suffolk</a>, <a href="/place/England">England</a> (age 61)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Ralph Nathaniel Fiennes</dd> <dd>Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/art/Tony-Awards">Tony Awards (1995)</a></dd> <dd>Tony Award (1995): Best Actor in a Play</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Notable Works: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Coriolanus-film-by-Fiennes">“Coriolanus”</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/The-Invisible-Woman">“The Invisible Woman”</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/The-White-Crow">“The White Crow”</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Married To: </dt> <dd>Alex Kingston (1993–1997)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In): </dt> <dd>"Dolittle" (2020)</dd> <dd>"The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Official Secrets" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Holmes & Watson" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Antony & Cleopatra" (2018)</dd> <dd>"The White Crow" (2018)</dd> <dd>"The Lego Batman Movie" (2017)</dd> <dd>"Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016)</dd> <dd>"Richard III" (2016)</dd> <dd>"Hail, Caesar!" (2016)</dd> <dd>"Spectre" (2015)</dd> <dd>"A Bigger Splash" (2015)</dd> <dd>"National Theatre Live: Man and Superman" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Mesyats v derevne" (2014)</dd> <dd>"Rev." (2011–2014)</dd> <dd>"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014)</dd> <dd>"The Invisible Woman" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Skyfall" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Great Expectations" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Wrath of the Titans" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011)</dd> <dd>"Coriolanus" (2011)</dd> <dd>"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Cemetery Junction" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Clash of the Titans" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang" (2010)</dd> <dd>"The Reader" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Hurt Locker" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Duchess" (2008)</dd> <dd>"In Bruges" (2008)</dd> <dd>"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007)</dd> <dd>"Bernard and Doris" (2006)</dd> <dd>"Land of the Blind" (2006)</dd> <dd>"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005)</dd> <dd>"The White Countess" (2005)</dd> <dd>"The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" (2005)</dd> <dd>"The Constant Gardener" (2005)</dd> <dd>"Chromophobia" (2005)</dd> <dd>"The Chumscrubber" (2005)</dd> <dd>"Freedom: A History of US" (2003)</dd> <dd>"Maid in Manhattan" (2002)</dd> <dd>"Red Dragon" (2002)</dd> <dd>"Spider" (2002)</dd> <dd>"The Miracle Maker" (2000)</dd> <dd>"The End of the Affair" (1999)</dd> <dd>"Onegin" (1999)</dd> <dd>"Sunshine" (1999)</dd> <dd>"The Prince of Egypt" (1998)</dd> <dd>"The Avengers" (1998)</dd> <dd>"Oscar and Lucinda" (1997)</dd> <dd>"The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century" (1996)</dd> <dd>"The English Patient" (1996)</dd> <dd>"Strange Days" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Quiz Show" (1994)</dd> <dd>"Schindler's List" (1993)</dd> <dd>"The Baby of Mâcon" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Screen Two" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Wuthering Heights" (1992)</dd> <dd>"Prime Suspect" (1991)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Movies/Tv Shows (Directed): </dt> <dd>"The White Crow" (2018)</dd> <dd>"The Invisible Woman" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Coriolanus" (2011)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Ralph-Fiennes"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-european-film-awards-nominations-emilia-perez-1236053119/" rel="nofollow">European Film Awards: ‘The Substance,’ ‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘The Room Next Door,’ Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton Among Nominees</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 5, 2024, 4:02 AM ET (The Hollywood Reporter) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/30/1211597178/there-can-only-be-one-pope-in-the-delightfully-preposterous-conclave" rel="nofollow">There can only be one pope in the delightfully preposterous 'Conclave' : Pop Culture Happy Hour</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Oct. 30, 2024, 11:13 PM ET (NPR) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/santa-barbara-film-fest-conclave-star-ralph-fiennes-performer-of-the-year-award-1236048646/" rel="nofollow">Santa Barbara Film Fest: ‘Conclave’ Star Ralph Fiennes Tapped for Performer of the Year Award (Exclusive)</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Oct. 30, 2024, 8:32 AM ET (The Hollywood Reporter) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><!--[BEFORE-ARTICLE]--><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><!--[PREMOD1]--><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1032318"></span>Ralph Fiennes</strong> (born December 22, 1962, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ipswich-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Ipswich</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Suffolk-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Suffolk</a>, England) is an English actor noted for his elegant, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="nuanced" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuanced" data-type="MW">nuanced</a> performances in a wide range of roles.</p><!--[MOD1]--><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><!--[PREMOD2]--><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Trained at the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Academy-of-Dramatic-Art" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Academy of Dramatic Art</a>, Fiennes joined <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London</a>’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-National-Theatre" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">National Theatre</a> in 1987 and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Shakespeare-Company" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Shakespeare Company</a> in 1989. His television performance in <em>A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia</em> (1991) led to his film debut in <em>Wuthering Heights</em> (1992). In 1993 he played a Nazi commandant in <span id="ref1044271"></span><em>Schindler’s List</em>. His menacing performance earned Fiennes an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Academy Award</a> nomination and launched his film career. He earned critical praise for his work in <em>Quiz Show</em> (1994) and <span id="ref1044272"></span><em>The English Patient</em> (1996), for which he received another Oscar nomination. Fiennes continued to act onstage, and he earned a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Tony-Awards" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tony Award</a> for his portrayal of the title character in the 1995 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Broadway-street-and-district-New-York-City" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Broadway</a> production of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">William Shakespeare</a>’s <em>Hamlet</em>.</p><!--[MOD2]--><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><!--[PREMOD3]--><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="236615" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/199061-050-2D7FE9E7/Rachel-Weisz-Ralph-Fiennes-The-Constant-Gardener.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1483083/236615"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/199061-050-2D7FE9E7/Rachel-Weisz-Ralph-Fiennes-The-Constant-Gardener.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/199061-050-2D7FE9E7/Rachel-Weisz-Ralph-Fiennes-The-Constant-Gardener.jpg?w=300" alt="The Constant Gardener" data-width="1600" data-height="1057" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/199061-050-2D7FE9E7/Rachel-Weisz-Ralph-Fiennes-The-Constant-Gardener.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1483083/236615"><em>The Constant Gardener</em></a><span>Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes in <em>The Constant Gardener</em> (2005), directed by Fernando Meirelles. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Noted for his <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> roles, Fiennes later portrayed a novelist in the film <em><span id="ref1292415"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-End-of-the-Affair-film-by-Jordan" class="md-crosslink ">The End of the Affair</a></em> (1999), a serial killer in <em><span id="ref1292416"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Red-Dragon" class="md-crosslink ">Red Dragon</a></em> (2002), and a widower determined to find his wife’s killer in <em><span id="ref1075446"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Constant-Gardener-film-by-Meirelles" class="md-crosslink ">The Constant Gardener</a></em> (2005). Subsequent films included <em><span id="ref1292417"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/In-Bruges" class="md-crosslink ">In Bruges</a></em> (2008), <em><span id="ref1292418"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Reader" class="md-crosslink ">The Reader</a></em> (2008), <em>The Hurt Locker</em> (2008), and <em>Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang</em> (2010; U.S. title <em><span id="ref1085013"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nanny-McPhee-Returns" class="md-crosslink ">Nanny McPhee Returns</a></em>). He gained further attention in the early 21st century for his roles as the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="sinister" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinister" data-type="MW">sinister</a> Lord <span id="ref1224453"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Voldemort" class="md-crosslink ">Voldemort</a> in the popular <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Harry-Potter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Harry Potter</a> film series; as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hades-Greek-mythology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hades</a> in the action-adventure movies <em><span id="ref1075402"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Clash-of-the-Titans" class="md-crosslink ">Clash of the Titans</a></em> (2010) and <em><span id="ref1292419"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wrath-of-the-Titans" class="md-crosslink ">Wrath of the Titans</a></em> (2012); and as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/James-Bond" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">James Bond</a>’s boss, M, in <em><span id="ref1165216"></span>Skyfall</em> (2012), <em><span id="ref1224452"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spectre-film" class="md-crosslink ">Spectre</a></em> (2015), and <em><span id="ref1297024"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/No-Time-To-Die" class="md-crosslink ">No Time to Die</a></em> (2021). Fiennes played a corrupt <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">prime minister</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Hare-British-playwright-and-director" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">David Hare</a>’s trilogy of television spy films—<em>Page Eight</em> (2011), <em>Turks & Caicos</em> (2014), and <em>Salting the Battlefield</em> (2014).</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/best-picture-movie-quote-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/240414-131-1042720D/Casablanca-film.jpg" alt="Publicity still with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman from the motion picture film "Casablanca" (1942); directed by Michael Curtiz. (cinema, movies)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Best Picture Movie Quote Quiz</div> </div> </a><!--[MOD3]--><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><!--[PREMOD4]--><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Fiennes exhibited his comedic talents in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wes-Anderson" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wes Anderson</a>’s caper <em><span id="ref1198944"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Grand-Budapest-Hotel" class="md-crosslink ">The Grand Budapest Hotel</a></em> (2014), in which he portrayed a renowned concierge wrongfully accused of murder. He then effectively layered charm and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="malice" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malice" data-type="MW">malice</a> as an effusive music producer in the Dionysian <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/theatre-art" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">drama</a> <em><span id="ref1292420"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-Bigger-Splash" class="md-crosslink ">A Bigger Splash</a></em> (2015) and evinced the struggles of a beleaguered film director in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Coen-brothers" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Coen brothers</a>’ Hollywood farce <em><span id="ref1228971"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hail-Caesar" class="md-crosslink ">Hail, Caesar!</a></em> (2016). In <em><span id="ref1262721"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holmes-and-Watson" class="md-crosslink ">Holmes & Watson</a></em> (2018), a comedic take on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arthur-Conan-Doyle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arthur Conan Doyle</a>’s classic mysteries, Fiennes assumed the role of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Professor-Moriarty" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Moriarty</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sherlock-Holmes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sherlock Holmes</a>’s <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="abiding" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abiding" data-type="MW">abiding</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="nemesis" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nemesis" data-type="MW">nemesis</a>. He then was cast as the lawyer of a British whistleblower (played by Keira Knightley) in the drama <em><span id="ref1273737"></span>Official Secrets</em> (2019). His credits from 2021 included <em><span id="ref1292414"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Dig-2021-film" class="md-crosslink ">The Dig</a></em>, about the discovery of the archaeological site <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sutton-Hoo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sutton Hoo</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">England</a>, and <em><span id="ref1299160"></span>The King’s Man</em>, an action film centring on a spy agency. The following year Fiennes starred as an egotistical chef in <em><span id="ref1307400"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Menu" class="md-crosslink ">The Menu</a></em> (2022), which combines satire with horror.</p><!--[MOD4]--><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><!--[PREMOD5]--><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="125083" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/125980-050-CF86961A/Janet-McTeer-Ralph-Fiennes-play-Ken-Stott-March-18-2008.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1483083/125083"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/125980-050-CF86961A/Janet-McTeer-Ralph-Fiennes-play-Ken-Stott-March-18-2008.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/125980-050-CF86961A/Janet-McTeer-Ralph-Fiennes-play-Ken-Stott-March-18-2008.jpg?w=300" alt="God of Carnage" data-width="1600" data-height="1083" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/125980-050-CF86961A/Janet-McTeer-Ralph-Fiennes-play-Ken-Stott-March-18-2008.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1483083/125083"><em>God of Carnage</em></a><span>Ralph Fiennes (top), Janet McTeer (centre), and Ken Stott (bottom) in Yasmina Reza's <em>God of Carnage</em> at the Gielgud Theatre in London, March 18, 2008.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Fiennes’s additional <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/acting" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">acting</a> credits included voice work in such animated films as <em><span id="ref1273736"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Prince-of-Egypt" class="md-crosslink ">The Prince of Egypt</a></em> (1998), <em><span id="ref1273735"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kubo-and-the-Two-Strings" class="md-crosslink ">Kubo and the Two Strings</a></em> (2016), <em><span id="ref1273734"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-LEGO-Batman-Movie" class="md-crosslink ">The LEGO Batman Movie</a></em> (2017), and <em><span id="ref1273733"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-LEGO-Movie-2-The-Second-Part" class="md-crosslink ">The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part</a></em> (2019). He also appeared in numerous other theatrical productions.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><!--[MOD5]--><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><!--[PREMOD6]--><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Meanwhile, Fiennes made his debut as a director in 2011 with a modern-day <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adaptation" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptation" data-type="MW">adaptation</a> of Shakespeare’s <span id="ref1127792"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Coriolanus-by-Shakespeare" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Coriolanus</em></a>, in which he starred as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gnaeus-Marcius-Coriolanus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">title character</a>; he had performed the role onstage in 2000. In his second directorial feature, <em><span id="ref1262724"></span>The Invisible Woman</em> (2013), Fiennes portrayed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Dickens-British-novelist" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Charles Dickens</a>, who, at the height of his career, begins a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="clandestine" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clandestine" data-type="MW">clandestine</a> affair with a young actress. He then helmed <em><span id="ref1262726"></span>The White Crow</em> (2018), a biopic about the Russian ballet dancer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rudolf-Nureyev-Russian-dancer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rudolf Nureyev</a>, who defected to France in 1961. Fiennes portrayed a renowned dance instructor.</p><!--[MOD6]--><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span><span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/contributor/encyclopaedia-britannica/12989892">Encyclopaedia Britannica</a>.</span><!--[END-OF-CONTENT]--><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><!--[AFTER-ARTICLE]--><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script> <!-- Ortto ebmwprod capture code --> <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1483083,"pageLength":573,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>