Joseph Fiennes is a well-known English actor who has appeared in films and on stage. He began his career on the theater with plays such as ‘The Woman in Black.’ He was born in Salisbury, England. He rose to notoriety after portraying the legendary English playwright William Shakespeare in the romantic comedy drama film ‘Shakespeare in Love.’ Around the same time, he achieved notoriety for his performance in the British biographical film ‘Elizabeth,’ which was loosely based on Queen Elizabeth’s early years in power. His performance earned him a nomination for a ‘Screen Actors Guild Award’ for Outstanding Male Actor Performance. He participated in various films throughout the years, including ‘Enemy at the Gates,’ an American war film in which he played one of the main characters, Commissar Danilov, and ‘Merchant of Venice,’ a film based on Shakespeare’s play of the same name in which he played the character Basanio. He’s also made a few TV appearances. In the second season of the popular horror anthology series ‘American Horror Story,’ he had a pivotal role. His most recent television appearance is in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ in which he portrays one of the main characters.
Childhood and Adolescence
On May 27, 1970, in Salisbury, England, UK, Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born to Mark Fiennes, an English photographer, illustrator, and farmer, and Jennifer Lash, a writer. He has five siblings, all of whom have achieved great success in their chosen fields. Ralph Fiennes, Martha Fiennes, Magnus Fiennes, Sophie Fiennes, and Jacob Fiennes are the members of the Fiennes family.
Michael Emery, a foster brother who works as an archaeologist, is also his biological brother. He went to the Leehurst Swan School and Bishop Wordsworth’s School, among others. Before attending the Young Vic Youth Theatre, he also attended an art school in Suffolk for a year. He also attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for three years, graduating in 1993.
Career of Joseph
In the play ‘The Woman in Black,’ Joseph Fiennes had his first professional theater debut. Following that, he starred in the play ‘A Month in the Country.’ He made his acting debut in the 1996 drama film “Stealing Beauty,” in which he played a pivotal part. The story revolved around a teenage girl who had recently lost her mother. Critics had conflicting feelings about it.
His performance in the 1998 film ‘Elizabeth,’ which was based on the early years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, earned him critical acclaim. The film was a big hit, winning a slew of prizes, including an Academy Award.Fiennes also starred in the romantic comedy-drama “Shakespeare in Love” in the same year. The film was a huge hit and is widely recognized as his most important work to date. It was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards and won seven of them.
His part in ‘Shakespeare in Love’ not only helped him gain fame, but it also helped him land major roles in other films throughout the years. He made his acting debut in the war film ‘Enemy at the Gates’ in 2001. The movie was a financial success. The next year, he starred in the film “Killing Me Softly,” in which he had a pivotal role.
He has ap peared in a number of films throughout the years, including ‘Merchant of Venice’ (2004), ‘The Darwin Awards’ (2006), ‘The Escapist’ (2008), and ‘Hercules’ (2014). He has also appeared in a number of television shows. From 2009 to 2010, he starred in the American television series ‘Flashforward,’ which aired on the ABC network.
He made his television debut in the second season of ‘American Horror Story,’ a prominent horror anthology series, in 2012. In 2016, he starred in the Biblical drama film ‘Risen,’ in which he played the major character. The picture was a commercial success, although it received mixed reviews.
Major Projects of Joseph
Joseph Fiennes acquired a lot of fame and acclaim for his appearance in the 1998 picture ‘Elizabeth,’ in which he played a pivotal role. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film revolved around the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was a box office hit and got two Academy Award nominations, one of which it won. Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Richard Attenborough, and Christopher Eccleston co-starred alongside Fiennes in the film.
In the romantic comedy drama ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ Fiennes played the famed English writer William Shakespeare. Along with Fiennes, the picture was directed by John Madden and starring Gwenyth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, and Ben Affleck. The plot centred around Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps’ fictitious love affair. The picture was not only a commercial success, but it also earned seven Academy Awards. The majority of critics gave it positive reviews.
He’s also recognized for his performance in the romantic drama film ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ which he starred in in 2004. The film is directed by Michael Radford and is based on William Shakespeare’s classic play of the same name. The film garnered largely positive reviews. It was, however, a commercial flop.
Achievements & Awards
For his role in the film ‘Elizabeth,’ Joseph Fiennes received the ‘Broadcast Film Critics Association Award’ for Breakthrough Artist in 1998. In 1998, he won the MTV Movie Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for his part in the film ‘Shakespeare in Love.’
Estimated Net Worth
Joseph Fiennes is a British actor with a $10 million dollar net worth. Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykenham-Fiennes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England on May 27, 1970. Ralph Fiennes, Joseph’s brother, is an actor.