[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ralphfiennes_3.jpg]]

->''"I don't plan a career. That doesn't work for me. I just have to go with my gut."''

Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (born 22 December 1962 in Ipswich, England) is an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated[[note]]Best Supporting Actor for ''Film/SchindlersList'', Best Actor for ''Film/TheEnglishPatient''[[/note]] {{Shakespearian|Actors}} English stage and film actor, producer, and director. He is also the older brother of fellow actor Creator/JosephFiennes, and distantly related to the famed explorer Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes.

He gained much prominence after his breakout roles in ''Film/SchindlersList'' and ''Film/TheEnglishPatient''. He has also shown up as a lead actor in foreign-language films, such as the 1999 Hungarian movie ''[[Film/Sunshine1999 Sunshine]]'', and later took on roles with considerable mainstream exposure such as Lord Voldemort in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' films and Gareth Mallory (the replacement of Creator/JudiDench as M) in the ''Franchise/JamesBond'' movies, starting with ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' for the latter.

In 2011, he directed a critically acclaimed modern-day adaptation of ''Film/{{Coriolanus}}'' starring himself alongside Creator/JessicaChastain and Creator/GerardButler, Creator/VanessaRedgrave and Creator/BrianCox.

Oh, and his name is pronounced "Rafe Fines".

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!!Notable roles include:
* ''Literature/WutheringHeights'' (1992) - Heathcliff
* ''Film/TheBabyOfMacon'' (1993) - The Bishop's Son
* ''Film/SchindlersList'' (1993) - Amon Göth
* ''Film/QuizShow'' (1994) - Charles Van Doren
* ''Film/StrangeDays'' (1995) - Lenny Nero
* ''Film/TheEnglishPatient'' (1996) - The Patient, [[spoiler: real name Count László de Almássy]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (1998) - Ramses II (voice)
* ''Film/{{The Avengers|1998}}'' (1998) - John Steed
* ''Film/{{Sunshine|1999}}'' (1999) - Ignatz Sonnenschein (Sors) / Adam Sors / Ivan Sors
* ''Film/{{The End of the Affair|1999}}'' (1999) - Maurice Bendrix
* ''WesternAnimation/TheMiracleMaker'' (1999) - Jesus Christ (voice)
* ''Film/RedDragon'' (2002) - Francis Dolarhyde
* ''Film/MaidInManhattan'' (2002) - Christopher Marshall
* ''Film/Spider2002'' - Dennis "Spider" Clegg
* ''Film/TheGoodThief'' (2002) - Tony Angel (uncredited)
* ''Film/TheConstantGardener'' (2005) - Justin Quayle
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCurseOfTheWereRabbit'' (2005) - Victor Quartermaine (voice)
* ''Film/HarryPotter'' series - Tom Marvolo Riddle / [[Characters/HarryPotterLordVoldemort Lord Voldemort]]
** ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' (2005)
** ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' (2007)
** ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & Part 2]]'' (2010-2011)
* ''Film/InBruges'' (2008) - Harry Waters
* ''Literature/TheReader'' (2008) - Older Michael Berg
* ''Film/TheDuchess'' (2008) - William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
* ''Film/TheHurtLocker'' (2009) - Contractor Team Leader
* ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|2010}}'' (2010) and ''Film/WrathOfTheTitans'' (2012) - Hades
* ''Film/{{Coriolanus}}'' (2011) - Coriolanus (also directed and produced)
* ''Film/JamesBond'' - [[Characters/JamesBondM Gareth Mallory/M]]
** ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' (2012)
** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'' (2015)
** ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' (2021)
* ''Film/TheGrandBudapestHotel'' (2014) - M. Gustave H
* ''Film/HailCaesar'' (2016) - Laurence Laurentz, a film director.
* ''WesternAnimation/KuboAndTheTwoStrings'' (2016) - The Moon King (voice)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'' (2017) - Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
* ''Film/HolmesAndWatson'' (2018) - Moriarty
* ''Film/{{Dolittle}}'' (2020) - Barry the Tiger (voice)
* ''Film/{{The Dig|2021}}'' (2021) - Basil Brown
* ''Film/TheKingsMan'' (2021) - Duke of Oxford
* ''[[Film/TheForgiven2021 The Forgiven]]'' (2021) - David Henninger
* ''Film/TheMenu'' (2022) - Chef Slowik
* Creator/RoaldDahl short film adaptations (2023) as Roald Dahl
** ''Film/TheWonderfulStoryOfHenrySugar''
** ''Film/{{The Swan|2023}}''
** ''Film/TheRatCatcher''
** ''Film/{{Poison|2023}}''

!!Provides examples of

* ChronicallyKilledActor: Most famously as Amon Göth and Voldemort but he's been axed off in quite a few of his films.
* DirectedByCastMember: Ralph Fiennes both starred in, directed and produced a 2011 film adaption of the Creator/WilliamShakespeare play ''Theatre/{{Coriolanus}}'', co-starring with Creator/GerardButler and Creator/JessicaChastain.
* DyeingForYourArt: He put on 28 pounds to play one of his major breakout roles, Amon Göth.
* EvilSoundsDeep: He plays a lot of villainous roles which make good use of his smooth, regal voice.
* IcyBlueEyes: In the ''Harry Potter'' films, Fiennes kept his natural blue eyes as Voldemort, in contrast to how in the books, Voldemort's eyes are {{red|EyesTakeWarning}}.
* PlayingAgainstType: An invoked example. After he became famous worldwide as Amon Göth he didn't want to become too typecast as villainous roles. Fortunately he was able to portray the handsome, charming, charismatic Charles Van Doren in ''Quiz Show'' in a role that won him further acclaim and showcased his acting range.
* QuintessentialBritishGentleman: A master of this trope both in theatre and in many of his film roles.
* StarMakingRole: He shot to international prominence with his portrayal of Amon Göth in ''Film/SchindlersList'', which drew glowing critical praise for his perfomance and notched him an Academy Award nomination.
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->[[WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt NYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]][[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsPart2 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!]]
->Ralph! [[Film/InBruges It's an inanimate fucking object!]]
->''YOU'RE'' AN INANIMATE FUCKING OBJECT!