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Joseph Alberic Fiennes (pronounced "Fines") (born
27 May 1970) is a British actor. He is best known for his work in the
theatre and his portrayal of William Shakespeare in the 1998 film
Shakespeare In Love.
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.
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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 portrayed 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.
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. |
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JOSEPH FIENNES PICTURES |
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MOST POPULAR
Angelina Jolie
Jessica Alba
Paris Hilton
Scarlett Johansson
Jessica Simpson
Britney Spears
Christina Aguilera
Lindsay Lohan
Shakira
Beyonce
Hilary Duff
ADDITIONS
Miley Cyrus
Rihanna
Hayden Panettiere
Miranda Cosgrove
Selena Gomez
Demi Lovato
Vanessa Hudgens
Ashley Tisdale
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