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Ralph Fiennes | Biography, Movies, & Credits | Britannica

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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/61627|0/Ralph-Fiennes#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Turner Classic Movies - Ralph Fiennes</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Ralph-Fiennes/610614" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ralph Fiennes - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Ralph Nathaniel Fiennes</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 &amp; Watson" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Antony &amp; 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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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">&#8226;</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" 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</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>&#8226;</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 &quot;Casablanca&quot; (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>

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