Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (/ˈfaɪnz/; b. 27 May 1970) is an English film and stage actor.
He is known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, Merlin in Camelot, Mark Benford in the 2009 TV series FlashForward and for starring as Monsignor Timothy Howard in the second season of the TV series American Horror Story.
Early life and family
Fiennes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England in 1970, the son of photographer Mark Fiennes and novelist Jennifer Lash. The youngest of six siblings, his elder siblings are actor Ralph Fiennes, filmmakers Sophie Fiennes and Martha Fiennes, composer Magnus Fiennes, conservationist Jacob Fiennes, his twin brother; and a foster brother Mike Emery, an archaeologist. He is a third cousin to explorer Ranulph Fiennes and eighth cousin of the Prince of Wales.
Education
Fiennes was briefly educated in the Republic of Ireland and then at Swan School For Boys (now known as Leehurst Swan School, following a merger with another school), an independent school in Salisbury, before passing his 11+ exam and continuing to Bishop Wordsworth's School, a voluntary-aided state day grammar school, in the Cathedral Close of the city. He then attended art school in Suffolk for a year, before joining the Young Vic Youth Theatre. Fiennes subsequently trained for three years at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1993.
Career
Stage and film
His first professional stage appearance was in the West End in The Woman in Black, followed by A Month in the Country opposite Helen Mirren. Fiennes then became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons.
He made his television debut as Willy in The Vacillations of Poppy Carew. His first feature film was 1996's Stealing Beauty, co-starring Liv Tyler. In 1998, Fiennes appeared in two films that were nominated at the Academy Awards: he played Robert Dudley opposite Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth and he portrayed William Shakespeare opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He and Paltrow were reunited onscreen in Running with Scissors (2006).
In 2001 he 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. The same year he starred in the limited-release film Luther, playing Martin Luther, and he also appeared in 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.
In 2006, he appeared in the films The Darwin Awards and Goodbye Bafana. Goodbye Bafana was filmed by director Bille August in South Africa, and released in 2007. Fiennes portrayed James Gregory, author of the book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.
Television
Fiennes starred in the ABC science fiction series FlashForward, which debuted on 24 September 2009 and ran through 27 May 2010, as Mark Benford. Fiennes stars in Starz's 10-part series, Camelot, as the wizard Merlin.
In the second season of American Horror Story, which premiered in October 2012, Fiennes began playing the role of Monsignor Timothy Howard.
Personal life
Fiennes married MarÃa Dolores Diéguez, a Swiss model, in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Tuscany in August 2009. They have two daughters.
Fiennes was one of the celebrities, including Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand, E. L. James and Rachel Riley, to design and sign his own card for the UK-based charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The cards were auctioned off on eBay during May 2014.
Filmography
Films
TV
Plays
- The Woman in Black, Fortune Theatre London (1993)
- A Month in the Country, Belyaev, Guildford, Richmond and the Albery Theatre London (1994)
- A View from the Bridge, Rodolpho, Guildford, Bristol Old Vic, Strand Theatre London (1995)
- Son Of Man, Jesus Christ, Royal Shakespeare Company, London (1996)||(1997)
- Les Enfants du Paradis, Lacenaire, Royal Shakespeare Company, London (1996)
- Troilus and Cressida, Troilus, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon and London (1996)||(1997)
- The Herbal Bed, Rafe Smith, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon and London (1996)||(1997)
- As You Like It, Silvius, Royal Shakespeare Company, London (1997)
- Real Classy Affair, Billy, Royal Court Theatre Company, London (1998)
- Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, Edward II, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (2001)
- War Poet's Reading, Apollo Theatre (2001)
- Othello, Iago, West End, London (2002)
- Love's Labour's Lost, Berowne, Royal National Theatre, London (2003)
- Epitaph for George Dillon, George Dillon, Royal National Theatre, London (2005)||(2006)
- 2,000 Feet Away, Deputy, Bush Theatre, London (2008)
- Cyrano de Bergerac, Cyrano, Chichester Festival Theatre (2009)
Other projects and contributions
- 2002 â€" contributed to the compilation album, When Love Speaks, which consists of Shakespearean sonnets and play excerpts â€" "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises" and "Our revels are now ended" (both from The Tempest)
- 2010 â€" 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
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Joseph Fiennes at the Internet Movie Database
- Joseph Fiennes biography and credits at the British Film Institute's Screenonline
- Joseph Fiennes in Angola BBC News
