Ralph Fiennes ( born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He graduated from RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in 1985. A Shakespeare interpreter, Fiennes 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 made his film debut playing Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1992). His portrayal of Nazi war criminal Amon Göth in the Steven Spielberg drama Schindler’s List (1993) earned him nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and garnered him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. His performance as Count Almásy in The English Patient (1996) garnered him a second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actor, as well as BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.
