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Biography
Career
After leaving art school, Fiennes worked with the Young Vic Youth Theatre. He continued his training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 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, was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons.
Fiennes 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 also portayed William Shakespeare opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in his most popular film to date Shakespeare in Love, which won the award for Best Picture. Following the success of Shakespeare In Love, Fiennes turned down a 5 picture deal from a major studio and withdrew from mainstream cinema. Instead he chose to return to the theatre. He remains highly selective of his work and has famously turned down major film productions in order to appear on stage.
Fiennes has also worked in other mediums. In 2003 he lent his voice to the film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas in which he played Proteus. 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.
In 2006, he will appear in The Darwin Awards opposite Winona Ryder and Running With Scissors once again teaming him up with Gwyneth Paltrow. Fiennes will return to the theatre again this year in the one-man play Unicorns, Almost about World War II poet Keith Douglas at the Old Vic .
In Spring 2006, he will be in South Africa to commence filming (Goodbye Bafana with director Bille August. Fiennes will portray James Gregory, author of the book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.
Personal life
Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, Fiennes is the son of novelist Jennifer Lash (d. 1993 aged 55 from breast cancer) and photographer Mark Fiennes (d. 2005, aged 71). The youngest of six siblings, he was raised in West Cork, Ireland. He is the brother of actor Ralph Fiennes, film makers Sophie Fiennes and Martha Fiennes, composer Magnus Fiennes and, his twin, Jacob Fiennes, a conservationist. His foster brother, Michael Emery, is an archaeologist. He is a cousin of Sir Ranulph Fiennes and eighth cousin of HRH, the Prince of Wales.
An avid philanthropist, Fiennes is involved with several charities, focusing mainly on the elimination of poverty and fundraising for breast cancer research. Fiennes travelled to Angola in 2003 to highlight the work of the Christian Aid charity.
He helped raise funds for the organization by presenting a three part report for BBC News the same year. He is also an ambassador for the Prince's Trust.
Selected filmography
Running with Scissors (2006)
The Darwin Awards (2006)
The Great Raid (2005)
The Merchant of Venice (2004)
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) (voice)
Luther (2003)
Killing Me Softly (2002)
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Elizabeth (1998)
Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (1998)
Stealing Beauty (1996)
Selected 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)
Awards
1998 - Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Most Promising Actor - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Newcomer - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Breakthrough Artist - Elizabeth
1999 - Chicago Film Crtitics Association Award for Most Promising Actor - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Gwyneth Paltrow) - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast - Shakespeare In Love
Nominations
1998 - Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Most Promising Actor - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Newcomer - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Breakthrough Artist - Elizabeth
1999 - Chicago Film Crtitics Association Award for Most Promising Actor - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Gwyneth Paltrow) - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - BAFTA Film Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Male Actor in a Leading Role - Shakespeare In Love
1999 - Teen Choice Award for Sexiest Love Scene - Shakespeare In Love
2005 - Golden Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical - The Merchant of Venice
