Ralph Fiennes
Best known for his chilling, calculating portrayals of murderous men, as Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List and Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise, Ralph Fiennes is much more than just a sinister character actor. The diversity of his performances range to drama (The Constant Gardener), psychological thriller (David Cronenberg’s haunting Spider), biopic (The Invisible Woman, where he played Charles Dickens and also directed) and offbeat comedy (The Grand Budapest Hotel, In Bruges). An actor with much renown for his work doing Shakespeare plays in England, it is no wonder that many directors want him involved in roles where Fiennes can play smart, ruthless characters.
Beyond his menacing complexion, Fiennes also has a leading man charisma that worked effortlessly in The English Patient (which earned him an Oscar nomination) and Quiz Show, one of the most under-appreciated titles of the 1990s. Over the years, Fiennes has also solidified a strong working relationship with many directors.
His turn in Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days pre-dates a small but memorable performance in her Oscar-winning thriller The Hurt Locker years later. He is also a close collaborator with Neil Jordan (The End of the Affair) and Mike Newell. Between his turns in blockbuster franchises, most recently in Skyfall, he has also turned to directing, and his first two films received major acclaim.
Certified Fresh Films: Schindler’s List, Quiz Show, The English Patient, The Prince of Egypt, Spider, The Constant Gardener, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, In Bruges, The Hurt Locker, Nanny McPhee Returns, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Coriolanus, Skyfall, The Invisible Woman, The Grand Budapest Hotel
A Spot of Bother: The Avengers (1998), Clash of the Titans (2010), Maid in Manhattan
Up Next: Two Women, a Polish drama; A Bigger Splash, a mystery co-starring Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson; Hail, Caesar!, the newest comedy from the Coen Brothers; the untitled 24th Bond film, where he will star as the new M; Flying Horse, the directorial debut of Gary Oldman where he will play photography pioneer Eadweard Muybridge.
