Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born on December 22, 1962, in Suffolk, England, to Jennifer Anne Mary Alleyne (Lash),a novelist, and Mark Fiennes, a photographer. He is the eldest of six children, with four of his siblings also pursuing careers in the arts: Martha Fiennes, a director; Magnus Fiennes, a musician; Sophie Fiennes, a producer; and Joseph Fiennes, an actor.
A renowned Shakespeare interpreter, Fiennes began his career onstage at the Royal National Theatre. He made his film debut in 1992 as Heathcliff in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, opposite Juliette Binoche. His breakthrough year was 1993, with major roles in Peter Greenaway's The Baby of Mâcon and Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List, in which he portrayed the notorious Nazi concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth.
Fiennes's portrayal of Goeth earned him numerous accolades, including the Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award and honors from various critics groups. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1994, Fiennes portrayed American academic Charles Van Doren in Quiz Show, and in 1996, he starred as Count Almásy in Anthony Minghella's The English Patient, for which he received Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations.
Since then, Fiennes has appeared in a wide range of films, including Strange Days, Oscar and Lucinda, The Prince of Egypt, Sunshine, The End of the Affair, The Good Thief, Red Dragon, Maid in Manhattan, The Constant Gardener, In Bruges, The Reader, The Hurt Locker, Clash of the Titans, Great Expectations, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Fiennes is also known for his roles in major film franchises, including the Harry Potter series, in which he played Lord Voldemort, and the James Bond series, in which he has portrayed M since 2012.
In 2011, Fiennes made his directorial debut with Coriolanus, in which he also played the title character. He has won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Prince Hamlet on Broadway.
Fiennes has been an ambassador for UNICEF UK since 1999.
