Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fiennes in 2018 | |
| Born | Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes 26 May 1970 |
| Education | Guildhall School of Music and Drama (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse |
María Dolores Diéguez
(m. 2009) |
| 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] (/faɪnz/; born 26 May 1970), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor. His numerous accolades include an Actor Award as well as nominations for a BAFTA Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.
Fiennes rose to stardom portraying William Shakespeare in the romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love (1998), for which he was nominated for the Actor Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He also portrayed Sir Robert Dudley in the biographical drama Elizabeth (1998), Commisar Danilov in the war drama Enemy at the Gates (2001), and Martin Luther in the historical film Luther (2003).
On television, he portrayed Monsignor Timothy Howard in the second season of the TV series American Horror Story (2012–2013). His performance as Commander Fred Waterford in the TV series The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2021) was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. On the stage, Fiennes's 2023 portrayal of Gareth Southgate in James Graham's Dear England earned him a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.
Early life and education
[edit]Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes[citation needed] was born on 26 May 1970[1][2] in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of Mark Fiennes (1933–2004), a farmer and photographer, and Jennifer Lash (1938–1993), a writer.[3] His siblings are: actor Ralph Fiennes; directors Martha Fiennes and Sophie Fiennes; composer Magnus Fiennes; and conservationist Jacob Fiennes, Joseph's twin brother. They lived mainly in Suffolk as children.[4] His distant cousin is Sir Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, a decorated English explorer.[5]
Fiennes trained to be an actor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 1993.[6]
Career
[edit]1990–1999: Early roles and breakthrough
[edit] | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (February 2016) |
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Fiennes' first professional stage appearance was in the West End in The Woman in Black, followed by A Month in the Country. He then became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons.
He made his television debut as Willy in the 1995 television film adaptation of The Vacillations of Poppy Carew. His first feature film was 1996's Stealing Beauty. In 1998, Fiennes appeared in two films that were nominated at the Academy Awards: he played Robert Dudley in Elizabeth and he portrayed William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, receiving nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role[7] and the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.[8]
2000–2016: Established actor
[edit]In 2001, Fiennes appeared in the film Enemy at the Gates. In 2002, he starred in the independent film Killing Me Softly. In 2003, he lent his voice as Proteus in the DreamWorks animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas opposite Brad Pitt.[citation needed] The same year, he starred in the limited-release film Luther, playing Martin Luther, and he also appeared in the 2004 film version of The Merchant of Venice, in which he portrayed Bassanio. Fiennes returned to the theatre in 2006 to perform in the one-man play Unicorns, Almost about World War II poet Keith Douglas at the Old Vic.[citation needed] Also in 2006, he appeared in the films The Darwin Awards, Running with Scissors, and Goodbye Bafana.
Fiennes starred in the ABC science fiction series FlashForward, which debuted on 24 September 2009 and ran through 27 May 2010, as Mark Benford.[9] He starred in Starz's 10-part series, Camelot, as the wizard Merlin.[10] In the second season of American Horror Story, which premiered in October 2012, Fiennes played the role of Monsignor Timothy Howard. In Goodbye Bafana Fiennes portrayed James Gregory, author of the book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.[citation needed] He portrayed Roman Tribune Clavius in the 2016 biblical film, Risen alongside his brother's Harry Potter co-star, Tom Felton.[11] Felton shared his recollections of filming scenes with Fiennes in his memoirs and praised his performance.[11]
2017–present
[edit]From 2017 to 2021, Fiennes starred on the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale as Commander Fred Waterford.[citation needed] In 2019, he was described in The Guardian as "the go-to actor for English cultural history".[12] In 2023, he appeared in the play Dear England, portraying the England football manager Gareth Southgate.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]In August 2009, Fiennes married María Dolores Diéguez, a Swiss model and photographer of Spanish/Galician origin, in a Catholic ceremony in Tuscany. They have two daughters.[13][14] The family resided in Mallorca, Spain near Palma, then later moved back to London.[15][16][17]
Charity work
[edit]Fiennes was one of the celebrities to design and sign his own card for the UK-based charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The cards were auctioned on eBay in May 2014.[18]
Acting credits
[edit]Films
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Vacillations of Poppy Carew | Willy | Television film |
| 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" (Unaired[b]) |
| 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 features Sir Ranulph Fiennes[20] | |
| 2025 | Prisoner 951 | Richard Ratcliffe | 4 episodes[21] |
| 2026 | Young Sherlock | Silas Holmes | 8 episodes |
| 2026 | Dear England | Gareth Southgate | Four-part drama[22] |
† released in U.S. as Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer by the National Geographic
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Woman in Black | Fortune Theatre, London | |
| 1994 | A Month in the Country | Belyaev, Guildford | The Albery Theatre London |
| 1995 | A View from the Bridge | Rodolpho | Bristol Old Vic, Strand Theatre London |
| 1996 | Les Enfants du Paradis | Lacenaire | Royal Shakespeare Company, London |
| 1996–97 | Son Of Man | Jesus Christ | Royal Shakespeare Company, London |
| 1996–97 | Troilus and Cressida | Troilus | Royal Shakespeare Company, London |
| 1996–1997 | The Herbal Bed | Rafe Smith | Royal Shakespeare Company, London |
| 1997 | As You Like It | Silvius | Royal Shakespeare Company, London |
| 1998 | Real Classy Affair | Billy | Royal Court Theatre Company, London |
| 2001 | Christopher Marlowe's Edward II | Edward II | Crucible Theatre, Sheffield |
| 2001 | War Poet's Reading | Performer | Apollo Theatre, London |
| 2002 | Othello | Iago | West End, London |
| 2003 | Love's Labour's Lost | Berowne | Royal National Theatre, London |
| 2005–06 | Epitaph for George Dillon | George Dillon | Royal National Theatre, London |
| 2008 | 2,000 Feet Away | Deputy | Bush Theatre, London |
| 2009 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Cyrano | Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 2016 | Ross | T. E. Lawrence | Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 2023 | Dear England | Gareth Southgate | Royal National Theatre, London |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Discography
[edit]- 2002 – contributed to the compilation album, When Love Speaks, which consists of Shakespearean sonnets and play excerpts – "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises" and "Our revels are now ended" (both from The Tempest)
- 2010 – starred in a series of readings of literary love scenes for The Carte Noire Readers.
- Joseph Fiennes reads Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
- Joseph Fiennes reads The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ↑ This British person has the barrelled surname Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, but is known by the surname Fiennes.
- ↑ Casting Fiennes as Jackson was a decision met with controversy, resulting in the episode being pulled from broadcast.[19]
References
[edit]- ↑ "with Gary Davies... and Joseph Fiennes!". The Radio 2 Breakfast Show. BBC. 28 May 2026. Event occurs at 2:22:30. BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Video Wishing Joseph Fiennes a happy 50th birthday!". ABC News. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "It's Raiph actually". The Guardian. 14 November 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ↑ Ralph Fiennes' 6 Siblings: All About the Actor's Large Famous Family, retrieved 28 March 2026
- ↑ Ingram, Simon (9 August 2023). "Keeping up with the Fienneses". National Geographic. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Guildhall School of Music & Drama". gsmd.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "Costume dramas take centre stage at Baftas". Liverpool Daily Post. 2 March 1999. p. 4.
- ↑ "Shakespeare film cast in line for more love-ly awards". Wolverhampton Express and Star. 27 January 1999. p. 14.
- ↑ "Joseph Fiennes Interview: FlashForward". TV.Sky.com. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2009..
- ↑ "Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green Lead Camelot Cast". TVGuide.com. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010.
- 1 2 3 Felton 2023, p. 242.
- ↑ Williams, Zoe (12 August 2019). "Joseph Fiennes: I've done my bit for society – I've illustrated the patheticness of misogyny". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ↑ "El amor ourensano de Shakespeare". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 12 February 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ↑ Edwardes, Charlotte (9 May 2026). "Joseph Fiennes on parenting, politics and banning children from social media: 'Stand up, Keir, this is your kids' generation'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ Berkowitz, Brittany (17 August 2018). "How 'Handmaids Tale' changed Joe Fiennes' marriage". GMA. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Actor Joseph Fiennes and Spanish wife Maria Dolores Dieguez renovate country hole in Spain's Mallorca". The Olive Press. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ Edwardes, Charlotte (9 May 2026). "Joseph Fiennes on parenting, politics and banning children from social media: 'Stand up, Keir, this is your kids' generation'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Pocklington, Rebecca (6 May 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand and more celebrities design and sign cards for UK's first children's charity". Mirror Online. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (13 January 2017). "'Urban Myths' Episode With Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson Canceled by Sky TV". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ↑ "Fiennes Return To The Wild". press.disney.co.uk. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ↑ Sayce, Rebecca (2 October 2025). "BBC unveils first look at "powerful" new drama and it's based on an "extraordinary true story"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ↑ "BBC announces Dear England, a new drama based on James Graham's hit play about Gareth Southgate". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ↑ "Standing Ovations in Berlin". KINO (in German). 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ↑ "Olivier Awards 2024". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ↑ Millward, Tom (7 December 2023). "Nominations in full: the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
Print sources
[edit]- Felton, Tom (2023). Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard (Paperback ed.). London: Ebury Publishing. ISBN 9781529149432.
External links
[edit]
- Joseph Fiennes at IMDb
- Joseph Fiennes biography and credits at the BFI's Screenonline
- Joseph Fiennes in Angola BBC News
- 1970 births
- Living people
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- English expatriates in Spain
- English male film actors
- English male radio actors
- English male Shakespearean actors
- English male stage actors
- English male television actors
- English male voice actors
- English people of Scottish descent
- English people of Irish descent
- English twins
- Expatriate actors in Spain
- Fiennes family
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Male actors from Salisbury
- Royal Shakespeare Company members