Joseph Fiennes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fiennes in 2018 | |
| Born | Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (1970-05-27)27 May 1970 (age 54) |
| Education | Guildhall School of Music and Drama (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Ralph Fiennes (brother) Martha Fiennes (sister) Magnus Fiennes (brother) Sophie Fiennes (sister) Hero Fiennes Tiffin (nephew) Ranulph Fiennes (third cousin, once removed) |
Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes[a][1] (/faɪnz/; born 27 May 1970),[2] known asJoseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Fiennes is particularly known for his versatility and period pieces. JournalistZoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history".[3] His numerous accolades include oneScreen Actors Guild Award and nomination for aBritish Academy Film Award.
He is known for his portrayals ofWilliam Shakespeare inShakespeare in Love (1998), for which he was nominated for theBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role,Sir Robert Dudley inElizabeth (1998), Commisar Danilov inEnemy at the Gates (2001),Martin Luther inLuther (2003), and Monsignor Timothy Howard in thesecond season of the TV seriesAmerican Horror Story (2012–2013). His performance as Commander Fred Waterford in the TV seriesThe Handmaid's Tale (2017–2021) was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. On the stage, Fiennes' 2023 portrayal ofGareth Southgate inJames Graham'sDear England earnt him a nomination for aLaurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.[4]
Fiennes was born in 1970 inSalisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son ofMark Fiennes (1933–2004), a farmer and photographer, andJennifer Lash (1938–1993), a writer.[5] He has Irish-British ancestry.[6][7]
His siblings are actorRalph Fiennes, well-known for playingLord Voldemort inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire toHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2; directorsMartha Fiennes andSophie Fiennes; composerMagnus Fiennes; andconservationist Jacob Fiennes, Joseph's twin brother. His foster brother, Michael Emery, is an archaeologist. His nephewHero Fiennes Tiffin played Tom Riddle, young Lord Voldemort inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His cousin isSir Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, a decorated English explorer.[8]
Fiennes was briefly educated in the Republic of Ireland, then atSwan School For Boys andBishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury. He then attendedart school in Suffolk for a year, before joining theYoung Vic Youth Theatre. Fiennes subsequently trained for three years at London'sGuildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1993.[9]
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Fiennes' first professional stage appearance was in the West End inThe Woman in Black, followed byA Month in the Country. He then became a member of theRoyal Shakespeare Company for two seasons.
He made his television debut as Willy in the 1995television film adaptation ofThe Vacillations of Poppy Carew. His first feature film was 1996'sStealing Beauty. In 1998, Fiennes appeared in two films that were nominated at theAcademy Awards: he played Robert Dudley inElizabeth and he portrayedWilliam Shakespeare inShakespeare in Love, receiving nominations for theBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role[10] and theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.[11] He appeared inRunning with Scissors (2006).
In 2001, Fiennes appeared in the filmEnemy at the Gates. In 2002, he starred in the independent filmKilling Me Softly.
In 2003, he lent his voice asProteus in theDreamWorks animated filmSinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas oppositeBrad Pitt. The same year, he starred in the limited-release filmLuther, playingMartin Luther, and he also appeared inThe Merchant of Venice, in which he portrayedBassanio. Fiennes returned to the theatre in 2006 to perform in the one-man playUnicorns, Almost about World War II poetKeith Douglas at theOld Vic.
In 2006, he appeared in the filmsThe Darwin Awards andGoodbye Bafana. InGoodbye Bafana Fiennes portrayedJames Gregory, author of the bookGoodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.
In 2023, he appeared in the playDear England, portraying the England football managerGareth Southgate.
Fiennes starred in the ABC science fiction seriesFlashForward, which debuted on 24 September 2009 and ran through 27 May 2010, as Mark Benford.[12] He starred in Starz's 10-part series,Camelot, as the wizardMerlin.[13]
In thesecond season ofAmerican Horror Story, which premiered in October 2012, Fiennes played the role of Monsignor Timothy Howard. From 2017 to 2021, Fiennes starred on the Hulu seriesThe Handmaid's Tale as Commander Fred Waterford.
In August 2009 Fiennes married María Dolores Diéguez, a Swiss model of Spanish/Galician origin, in a Roman Catholic ceremony inTuscany. They have two daughters named Eva and Isabel.[14] The family reside inMallorca, Spain nearPalma.[15][16]
Fiennes was one of the celebrities to design and sign his own card for the UK-based charityThomas Coram Foundation for Children. The cards were auctioned oneBay in May 2014.[17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Pretty/Handsome | Bob Fitzpayne | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2009–10 | FlashForward | Mark Benford | 22 episodes |
| 2011 | Camelot | Merlin | 10 episodes |
| 2012–13 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Monsignor Timothy Howard | 10 episodes |
| 2017 | Urban Myths | Michael Jackson | Episode: "Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon" |
| 2017–2021 | The Handmaid's Tale | Commander Fred Waterford | 36 episodes |
| 2019 | Fiennes: Return to the Nile† | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Sherwood | Sheriff Nottingham (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Royal Kill List | Himself | 3 episodes |
| Fiennes Return To The Wild | Himself | Two-part documentary; also featuresSir Ranulph Fiennes[18] | |
| TBA | Dear England | Gareth Southgate | Four-part drama[19] |
| Young Sherlock | Silas Holmes | Filming |
† released in U.S. asEgypt with the World's Greatest Explorer by theNational Geographic.
