Ralph Fiennes (1962-) b. Suffolk, England.

Born in Suffolk, Fiennes originally wanted to be a painter until enrolling at the Chelsea College of Art and Design before later attending RADA for three years to study acting. Following graduation, he joined the Royal National Theatre and became part of the Royal Shakespeare Company a year later.

Fiennes made his film debut opposite Juliette Binoche in Wuthering Heights (1992). He became known to a wider audience when he appeared in Steven Spielberg’s epic Schindler’s List (1993) as the psychotic Nazi camp commandant Amon Goeth. He revisited World War II years later in Anthony Minghella‘s Oscar-winning adaptation of The English Patient (1996). Fiennes played John Steed in the film version of the popular 1960s TV series The Avengers (1998); the film was poorly received by the public and lambasted by critics. In The End of the Affair (1999), he portrayed a novelist embroiled in an adulterous affair in wartime London. He scored a minor success as Charles Van Doren, a central figure in the TV game show rigging scandals in Robert Redford’s Quiz Show (1994). In Red Dragon (2002), he played the tattooed serial killer Francis Dolarhyde pursued with the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. More recently he has appeared as the love interest opposite Jennifer Lopez in fairy-tale romance Maid in Manhattan (2002).

Following a brief break from the screen, he returned to play the title role in Fernando Meirelles’ gripping adaptation of the John le Carre novel The Constant Gardener (2004). He later appeared as he Duke of Devonshire opposite Keira Knightley in The Duchess (2008), and had a crucial and entertaining minor-role as a Cockney gangster in Martin McDonagh’s feature debut In Bruges (2008).