Ralph Fiennes has reflected on the recognition he’s receiving for his latest role, saying being celebrated three decades into his film career is “a good feeling,” admitting
The 62-year-old British actor has been nominated for Best Lead Actor at next week’s BAFTAs and is also in the running for an Academy Award next month for his performance in Conclave, a thriller set in the Vatican.
Despite a long and acclaimed career, Fiennes has yet to win an Oscar—his last nomination was for The English Patient, and before that, he was up for Best Supporting Actor for his chilling performance in 1993 Schindler’s List.
Discussing his Conclave nominations, Fiennes acknowledged that actors face “lots of bumps and bruises and disappointments” in the industry, making the positive recognition all the more “welcomed.”
“If a film is celebrated and performance is welcomed in this context and received well, of course,” he told The Standard.
“It's all actors love to feel their work is well received, and we get lots of bumps and bruises and disappointments, so when we get the opposite, which is equivalent to good applause and a ‘well done’, it's a good feeling. Absolutely.”
Asked whether he was surprised by the film’s awards-season momentum, given its subject matter, the Tony Award winner said he’s delighted audiences have enjoyed the movie.
He shared: “I think people are surprised that a film about a Catholic conflict had any drama, dramatic appeal in the first place.
“I think when they heard it did have dramatic appeal, I think their curiosity was piqued, and they went to see it, and they were having a great evening out.”
Beyond his awards recognition, Fiennes has unexpectedly found himself a viral sensation, particularly among reality TV fans.
Last year, he won over a new audience with his Shakespearean-style dramatic reading of a viral Real Housewives moments.
His first foray into Bravo culture came when he reenacted a scene from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alongside Everything Everywhere All at Once star Stephanie Hsu on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen—who happens to be his friend and New York neighbour.
He then went viral again for his theatrical reading of Jools Lebron’s Very Demure, Very Mindful TikTok monologue, which took the internet by storm last summer. Rather than mimic Lebron’s delivery, Fiennes told Cohen and Anderson Cooper during CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast that he preferred to put his own spin on it.
“It's my friend Andy Cohen. He seduces me into doing these things,” Fiennes joked about his newfound internet fame.
And when asked whether Cohen might convince him to take on more Bravo-inspired performances, he smiled and simply said: “He might.”
