Ralph Fiennes

Born in Suffolk in 1962, Ralph Fiennes wasn't originally going to be an actor. He studied painting at Chelsea College of Art, but then trained  at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1985. He began his career as an actor at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the National Theatre, before working with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/royal-shakespeare-company).

After his various roles in the RSC, he has since performed in Man and Superman at the National Theatre and The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh. He has also played many classic roles including Oepidus the King in the same-named show at the National Theatre and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. 

Fiennes is perhaps best known for his role as Lord Voldemort in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter film series. On screen, he's also been in Skyfall and The Grand Budapest Hotel and Schindler's List.

In 2016 Fiennes returned to the stage in the titular role in Richard III at the Almeida Theatre, opposite Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret. He's also starred in the one-man play [Four Quartets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23475-four-quartets) at the Harold Pinter Theatre, which ran for a month. He then played Robert Moses in [Straight Line Crazy](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23484-straight-line-crazy) at the Bridge Theatre.

^{Photo credit: Ralph Fiennes (Photo by Brigitte Lacombe)}