Over the past 30 years, James Bond films. He's also gone back and forth between ing performances and lead roles, as he's comfortable both as a character actor and as a leading man.
His latest film, a period drama called Netflix and has earned rave reviews. Here's a look at the rest of his career.
Memorable: Voldemort - Harry Potter Series
Of all of his roles, the one Ralph Fiennes is most associated with is his impressive turn as Voldemort, the arch villain who appears in five of the Harry Potter films. Despite spending hours in the makeup chair before filming, Fiennes is oddly recognizable in the role, which is a testament to his expressiveness as an actor.
He brings a sense of realism to this larger than life character, which makes his Voldemort all the more threatening. It's hard to imagine anyone else having played the character.
Deserves More Recognition: Justin Quayle - The Constant Gardener
As a film, The Constant Gardener is underrated in general. It's an The Constant Gardener is one of his more accessible stories, and the film version works largely due to the compelling love story between the two leads, played by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, who won an Oscar for her performance.
Fiennes' performance is fantastic, as he plays both a romantic lead and a man on a mission who must solve his wife's murder against long odds and powerful, nefarious forces.
Memorable: Amon Goeth - Schindler's List
There aren't many actors who would have been able to say that Voldemort is the second most evil character they've ever played. but the Schindler's List, a brutal concentration camp enforcer.
Fiennes was nominated for Best ing Actor at the 1994 Academy Awards for his performance, but lost to Tommy Lee Jones, who won for The Fugitive, in one of the more head-scratching decisions in Oscar history.
Deserves More Recognition: Harry - In Bruges
Martin McDonagh's buddy comedy, with most attention and praise going to Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who play hitmen awaiting orders in Bruges, Belgium.
Their boss is the double-crossing Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes. In keeping with the tone of the film, he's violent, threatening, but also incredibly funny. It's one of Fiennes' best performances ever, and one that should be better ed.
Memorable: M - Skyfall, Spectre
For most of Skyfall, Ralph Fiennes' character goes by Gareth Mallory, a liaison between MI6 and the British government. By the end of the film, he is the new 'M,' following the untimely and controversial death of Judi Dench's M character. Throughout the Bond series, M has been a trusted Bond partner.
Fiennes' spin on the character is unique in that his M is more jaded and cynical, yet still comes through when he has to and proves a vital ally to 007 in 2015's Spectre. Fiennes is slated to reprise his role in the Bond film No Time To Die.
Deserves More Recognition: Coriolanus - Coriolanus
Shakespeare is always a tough sell to contemporary audiences. Coriolanus is one of the Bard's lesser-known plays, and so this 2011 screen adaptation was never bound for box office glory. It grossed a meager $2.4 million worldwide, but received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. Fiennes stars in the title role, and also directs the film, a modern re-telling of a banished Roman war hero's quest for revenge against his former city. His performance is excellent, as is his work behind the camera. Coriolanus is a film that almost no one saw, but it well worth seeking out.
Memorable: Almase - The English Patient
Fiennes garnered his second Oscar nomination for his emotional performance in 1996's Oscar-winning romance, The English Patient. The film takes place near the end of the second world war. Fiennes plays an injured pilot whose life story is told in flashback to a nurse who's caring for him.
The film is beautifully made, and took home 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It also established Fiennes as a romantic lead, whereas previous roles found him playing more villainous characters.
Deserves More Recognition: Charles Van Doren - Quiz Show
Fiennes plays Charles Van Doren, a charismatic and crooked game show contestant, in 1994's Quiz Show. The film is based on a true story, and garnered rave reviews and major awards consideration upon its release. This was another great performance by Ralph Fiennes which followed his Oscar-nominated turn in Schindler's List. Given the positive critical reception to this film, this should have been another massive boon to Fiennes' career, but despite the good press and awards attention, the film was a box office flop which failed to recoup its $31 million budget.
Memorable: M. Gustave - The Grand Budapest Hotel
M. Gustave is the flamboyant concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel who's wrongfully accused of murdering one of the establishment's wealthy guests. Next to Gene Hackman's Royal in Wes Anderson's most memorable leading man, thanks to Fiennes' thoroughly charming performance as a lovable oddball in way over his head.
The film is a whimsical adventure comedy that hits all the right notes, and was a massive box office hit. Fiennes scored a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
Deserves More Recognition: Lenny Nero - Strange Days
1995's Strange Days is a dystopian sci-fi thriller that takes place on the millennium New Year's Eve. Fiennes plays retired cop Lenny Nero who traffics in virtual reality CDs which allow s to experience the past lives of other people. When one of them contains a grisly murder, Lenny and his friend must find the killer, and in the process they uncover a sinister conspiracy. The film was written by James Cameron, and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It's an underrated film that proved astute in its response to the L.A. riots of 1992, and prescient in its depiction of civil unrest regarding police brutality today.
Fiennes gives a wild performance in this wild movie about wild times. He, and the film itself, warrant a second look from audiences who may have forgotten about it.
