He played the Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies: Who is Ralph Fiennes?

Born in Ipswich in 1962, Fiennes' father, Mark Fiennes (1933-2004), was a photographer, and his mother, Jini Fiennes (1938-1993), was a writer and painter. The eldest of 6 siblings, Ralph Fiennes' siblings have also been successful individuals in different jobs.

Martha Fiennes is a director, Magnus Fiennes is a musician, Sophia Fiennes is a producer, Joseph Fiennes is an actor, and Jacob Mark Fiennes is an environmental rights activist. His foster brother, Michael Fiennes, with whom he grew up, is an archaeologist.

The child of a well-established family, Fiennes moved to Ireland with his family when he was 11 years old. Then he returned to England and studied painting at Chelsea College of Art, Department of Painting for a while, but then decided on acting.

Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. A Shakespeare interpreter, he excelled onstage at the Royal National Theatre before having further success at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Widely regarded as one of Britain’s most well-known and popular actors, he has received various accolades including a BAFTA Award and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and an Emmy Award.

He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for three years. After his successful theater career, he made his film debut with the role of Heathcliff in the 1992 adaptation of Wuthering Heights. He became famous for his role as Amon Göth in the Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List, which he played in 1993.

Fiennes, who was nominated for an Oscar, won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. This reputation was further strengthened with Kathryn Bigelow's film Strange Days in 1995 and later with the film The English Patient.

He won a Tony Award for his performance of Hamlet on Broadway in 1995. In 1999, he was named Best Actor at the European Film Awards for another World War II drama, Sunshine.

In 2002, he starred in the movie Red Dragon with Anthony Hopkins and Philip Seymour Hoffman. He continued his role as Lord Voldemort, which he began to portray in the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, until the last film of the series.

He worked with a very rich cast in the 2014 Wes Anderson film The Grand Budapest Hotel. In the following years, he starred in films such as You Are Mine, Spectre, and Hail Caesar.

Fiennes, who married British actress Alex Kingston in 1993 after being in a relationship for many years, divorced his wife 2 years later in 1997 due to the start of his relationship with Francesca Annis. His relationship with Annis lasted until 2006.

Voldemort character

In 2005, Ralph Fiennes first appeared as the evil wizard Voldemort in the Harry Potter saga. The first appearance of this character is only in the fourth installment of the franchise. Before "The Goblet of Fire" and before that, he was only revealed in words in the movies as Harry Potter's main antagonist. This role instantly brought Ralph Fiennes to the attention of audiences around the world. In addition, his dark wizard has entered the list of cinema's greatest villains.

The actor returned to the screens in the role of Voldemort in all subsequent parts of the saga – “The Order of the Phoenix” and both parts of “The Deathly Hallows”. His character was eventually reprized by the good wizard Harry Potter, played in the film by Daniel Radcliffe.

Interesting facts about Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes loves repairs, framing, painting walls, and making things with his own hands.

Ralph Fiennes speaks fluent Russian. However, he admits that he is ashamed to show it.

The actor's favorite singer is known as – Anna Netrebko.

He says Treasure Island, Coriolanus, Eugene Onegin, Uncle Vanya, and Homer's Iliad as his favorite books.