Joseph Fiennes
{{Short description|English actor (born 1970)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joseph Fiennes
| image = Joseph Fiennes (43622434151).jpg
| caption = Fiennes in 2018
| birth_name = Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|5|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Guildhall School of Music and Drama (BA)
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{marriage|María Dolores Diéguez|2009}}
| children = 2
| father = Mark Fiennes
| mother = Jennifer Lash
| 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{{efn|This British person has the barrelled surname Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, but is known by the surname Fiennes.}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=jiHpxJAjEy%2Fq1%2BNwKwdYfg&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=25 July 2014|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}} ({{IPAc-en|f|aɪ|n|z}}; born 27 May 1970),[https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/wishing-joseph-fiennes-happy-50th-birthday-70894031 Wishing Joseph Fiennes a happy 50th birthday!] known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Fiennes is particularly known for his versatility and period pieces. Journalist Zoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history".{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Zoe |date=12 August 2019 |title=Joseph Fiennes: I've done my bit for society – I've illustrated the patheticness of misogyny |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/12/joseph-fiennes-ive-done-my-bit-for-society-ive-illustrated-the-patheticness-of-misogyny |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=The Guardian}} His numerous accolades include one Screen Actors Guild Award and nomination for a British Academy Film Award.
He is known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (1998), for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth (1998), Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates (2001), Martin Luther in Luther (2003), and 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' 2023 portrayal of Gareth Southgate in James Graham's Dear England earned him a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.{{Cite web |title=Olivier Awards 2024 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2024/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}
Early life, family and education
{{further|Baron Saye and Sele}}
Fiennes was born in 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of Mark Fiennes (1933–2004), a farmer and photographer, and Jennifer Lash (1938–1993), a writer.{{cite news |author= |date=14 November 1999 |title=It's Raiph actually |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/nov/14/1 |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=The Guardian}} He has Irish-British ancestry.{{cite web|title=Ralph Fiennes Biography|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/66/Ralph-Fiennes.html|work=filmreference|year=2008| access-date=10 April 2008}}{{cite web |title=Ralph Fiennes – Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000146/bio |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=IMDb}}
His siblings are actor Ralph Fiennes, well known for playing Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2; directors Martha Fiennes and Sophie Fiennes; composer Magnus Fiennes; and conservationist Jacob Fiennes, Joseph's twin brother. His foster brother, Michael Emery, is an archaeologist. His nephew Hero Fiennes Tiffin played Tom Riddle, young Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His cousin is Sir Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, a decorated English explorer.{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Jim |date=2 March 2019 |title=World Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes And Actor Joseph Fiennes On Their New Adventure Series In Egypt |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2019/03/02/world-explorer-sir-ranulph-fiennes-and-actor-joseph-fiennes-on-their-new-adventure-series-in-egypt/ |access-date=7 July 2020 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Fiennes was briefly educated in the Republic of Ireland, then at Swan School For Boys and Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury. 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.{{Cite web |title=Guildhall School of Music & Drama {{!}} People who studied at Guildhall |url=https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/about_the_school/alumni/people_who_studied_at_guildhall/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131418/https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/about_the_school/alumni/people_who_studied_at_guildhall/ |archive-date=6 February 2018 |access-date=5 February 2018 |website=gsmd.ac.uk |language=en}}
Career
= Stage and film =
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2016}}
File:Joseph Fiennes 5 (cropped).jpg
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{{cite news |date=2 March 1999 |title=Costume dramas take centre stage at Baftas |work=Liverpool Daily Post |page=4}} and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.{{cite news |date=27 January 1999 |title=Shakespeare film cast in line for more love-ly awards |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star |page=14}} He appeared in Running with Scissors (2006).
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. 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. In Goodbye Bafana Fiennes portrayed James Gregory, author of the book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.
In 2023, he appeared in the play Dear England, portraying the England football manager Gareth Southgate.
= 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.{{cite web |date=25 September 2009 |title=Joseph Fiennes Interview: FlashForward |url=http://tv.sky.com/joseph-fiennes-interview-flash-forward |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328180044/http://tv.sky.com/joseph-fiennes-interview-flash-forward |archive-date=28 March 2010 |access-date=14 October 2009 |website=TV.Sky.com}}. He starred in Starz's 10-part series, Camelot, as the wizard Merlin.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Camelot-Fiennes-Green-1019201.aspx|title=Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green Lead Camelot Cast|publisher=TVGuide.com|date=3 June 2010}}
In the second season of American Horror Story, which premiered in October 2012, Fiennes played the role of Monsignor Timothy Howard. From 2017 to 2021, Fiennes starred on the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale as Commander Fred Waterford.
Personal life
In August 2009 Fiennes married María Dolores Diéguez, a Swiss model of Spanish/Galician origin, in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Tuscany. They have two daughters named Eva and Isabel.{{cite news |date=12 February 2016 |title=El amor ourensano de Shakespeare |url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/ourense/a-pobra-de-trives/2016/02/12/amor-ourensano-shakespeare/0003_201602G12P28994.htm |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=La Voz de Galicia |language=es}} The family reside in Mallorca, Spain near Palma.{{Cite web |last=Berkowitz |first=Brittany |date=17 August 2018 |title=How 'Handmaids Tale' changed Joe Fiennes' marriage |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/handmaids-tale-changed-joe-fiennes-marriage-57151234 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=GMA}}{{Cite journal |date=31 January 2022 |title=Actor Joseph Fiennes and Spanish wife Maria Dolores Dieguez renovate country hole in Spain's Mallorca |url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2022/01/30/actor-joseph-fiennes-and-spanish-wife-maria-dolores-dieguez-renovate-country-home-in-spains-mallorca/ |journal=The Olive Press |access-date=21 January 2023}}
Charity work
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.{{cite web |last=Pocklington |first=Rebecca |date=6 May 2014 |title=Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand and more celebrities design and sign cards for UK's first children's charity |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/benedict-cumberbatch-tom-hiddleston-jo-3504331 |access-date=7 May 2014 |work=Mirror Online}}
Acting credits
= Films =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 1995
| The Vacillations of Poppy Carew | Willy | Television film |
| 1996
| Christopher Fox | |
| rowspan="3"| 1998
| Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence | Laurence | Released as The Very Thought of You in the US |
| Elizabeth
| Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester | |
| Shakespeare in Love
| |
| 1999
| Manuel Esquema/Alan Riply | |
| 2000
| Sean Deeny | |
| rowspan="2"| 2001
| Commisar Danilov | |
| Dust
| Elijah | |
| rowspan="2"| 2002
| Leo | Stephen | |
| Killing Me Softly
| Adam Tallis | |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Proteus | Voice role |
| Luther
| |
| 2004
| Bassanio | |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| Major Gibson | |
| Man to Man
| Jamie Dodd | |
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| Neil Bookman | |
| The Darwin Awards
| Michael Burrows | |
| 2007
| |
| rowspan="4"| 2008
| Lenny Drake | |
| The Red Baron
| |
| You Me and Captain Longbridge
| Narrator | |
| Spring 1941
| Artur Planck | |
| 2009
| Paul Thompson | |
| rowspan="2"| 2014
| Morodian | |
| Hercules
|King Eurystheus | |
| rowspan="2"| 2015
|Matthew Parker | |
| Psy
|American man | |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
|Clavius | |
| On Wings of Eagles (The Last Race)
| |
| 2023
|Adrian Lovell | |
| TBA
| TBA |Post-production |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Bob Fitzpayne | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2009–10
| Mark Benford | 22 episodes |
| 2011
| Camelot | Merlin | 10 episodes |
| 2012–13
| American Horror Story: Asylum | Monsignor Timothy Howard | 10 episodes |
| 2017
| Episode: "Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon" |
| 2017–2021
| Commander Fred Waterford | 36 episodes |
| 2019
| Fiennes: Return to the Nile† | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2019
| Sherwood | Sheriff Nottingham (voice) | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| Royal Kill List | Himself | 3 episodes |
| Fiennes Return To The Wild
| Himself | Two-part documentary; also features Sir Ranulph Fiennes{{cite web|url=https://press.disney.co.uk/news/nature-is-in-their-nature:-join-sir-ranulph-and-joseph-fiennes-on-an-awe-inspiring-exploration-of-the-canadian-wilderness-in-fiennes:-return-to-the-wild|title=Fiennes Return To The Wild|website=press.disney.co.uk|date=11 April 2024|accessdate=19 May 2024}} |
| rowspan="2"| TBA |
| Young Sherlock
| Silas Holmes | Filming |
† released in U.S. as Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer by the National Geographic
= Theatre =
- 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)
- Ross, T. E. Lawrence, Chichester Festival Theatre (2016)
- Dear England, Gareth Southgate, Royal National Theatre, London (2023)
= Spoken word =
- 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.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100324112129/http://www.cartenoire.co.uk/cartenoire/page/readers/joseph-fiennes/joseph-fiennes-reads-presumed-innocent-by-scott-turow/676 Joseph Fiennes reads Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100322195723/http://www.cartenoire.co.uk/cartenoire/page/readers/joseph-fiennes/joseph-fiennes-reads-the-brightest-star-in-the-sky-by-marian-keyes/677 Joseph Fiennes reads The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes]
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |
|---|
| 1998
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | Most Promising Actor | rowspan="3" | Shakespeare in Love | {{won}} |
| rowspan="10" | 1999
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | {{nom}} |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
| Favorite Male Newcomer | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
| rowspan="2" | Breakthrough Artist | {{won}} |
| rowspan="7" |Shakespeare in Love
| {{won}} |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
| Most Promising Actor | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |MTV Movie Awards
| Best Breakthrough Male Performance | {{nom}} |
| Best Kiss (with Gwyneth Paltrow)
| {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | {{won}} |
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
| {{nom}} |
| Teen Choice Awards
| Sexiest Love Scene (with Gwyneth Paltrow) | {{nom}} |
| 2005
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | {{nom}} |
| 2008
|The Spirit | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | rowspan="7" | The Handmaid's Tale | {{nom}} |
| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"| 2019
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="4"| Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series | {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="3"| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
| {{nominated}} |
| 2020
| {{nom}} |
| 2022
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|2024
| rowspan="2"|Dear England | {{nom}} |
| Laurence Olivier Award
| {{nom}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|40em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|1212|Joseph Fiennes}}
- {{Screenonline name|id=451674|name=Joseph Fiennes biography and credits}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/3010845.stm Joseph Fiennes in Angola] BBC News
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiennes, Joseph}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Category:English expatriates in Spain
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male radio actors
Category:English male Shakespearean actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English people of Scottish descent
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Male actors from Salisbury